The word addiction comes from the Latin “addictus” and refers to a chronic and recurring disease characterized by the pathological search for reward or relief through the abuse of a substance or other actions.
According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), 4.4 million men and 1.2 million women in Latin America and the Caribbean suffer from drug use disorders —such as addiction and other conditions—at some point in their lives.
In the case of the world and according to data from the National Observatory on Drugs (OND) from 2022, more than 20% of the population served for addiction issues was between 10 and 19 years old, and the numbers are expected to continue to increase.
Parents have a key role in supporting their adolescent children in preventing substance use, but it is also important to offer support in the recovery of those who are addicted.
Here we share three recommendations so that parents can adequately support their son or daughter in this situation:
- Seek professional help. Once parents identify that their son or daughter is using substances, they should seek the assistance of a professional so that the family can receive appropriate help. In most cases, it is recommended that parents, as well as the child, attend therapy, as they will be facilitators during this process.
- Have a positive attitude. The best role you can play during your child’s rehabilitation process is that of an active and positive parent, seeking to be involved every step of the way. For the teen, feeling that support from his or her family instead of rejection will go a long way toward a successful process.
- Educate yourself on the subject. Parents need to find out as much as possible about the processes of addiction recovery, its causes, and consequences, in order to deepen their knowledge on the subject and better understand how to support their son or daughter.
During adolescence, young people’s nervous systems have not yet fully formed and, therefore, they are impulsive and do not have the reasoning ability of an adult; this is why they are constantly looking to take risks, one of the most popular being substance abuse.
It is recommended that parents explain to their children from an early age the consequences that substance use has on a person’s mental and physical health. Giving them information, talking to them, and being present at all stages of their child’s life is the key.