Substance Use
Substance Use
Using substances recreationally or prescribed medications not according to the doctor’s orders can be dangerous and cause lasting damage – particularly to a young person’s brain. Regularly turning to substances instead of developing healthy coping habits can begin a lifelong pattern of avoiding addressing underlying issues. We all go through difficult times, and you deserve to get the support you need to learn how to cope without harming your body.
Many young people consider experimenting with drugs and alcohol out of curiosity about something that’s off limits. While this is understandable, it is surprising how many people thought they were still in control of their use until they tried to stop. In Washington, recent laws legalizing marijuana and allowing vaping nicotine indoors can make substance use seem acceptable without revealing how unhealthy it can be for your body.
It is always important to understand the effects of what you’re putting in your body. If you understand the risks of each of these substances you can make safer decisions.
Even vaping with no-nicotine juice to do cool tricks with the smoke can be harmful, especially if you don’t know what the ingredients are. When trading vape pens with friends, you may also not realize how much nicotine you may be ingesting, if it’s contained in their pens, and this can lead to an addiction to nicotine.
Young people who are curious about alcohol need to learn the risks. In addition to the discomfort of hangovers and getting sick, binge drinking can lead to risky behavior, drunk driving accidents, and alcohol poisoning. Some people drink before realizing they’ve taken pills that day that have toxic effects when combined.
Smoking marijuana only at parties can still lead to unsafe behaviors, such as daily substance use. The effects of marijuana can be confusing. For example, it can both cause and calm extreme anxiety, and it may seem to soothe insomnia, but it may also cause it because it is one of the primary withdrawal effects.
Prescriptions for pain, like opioids (oxycodone, hydrocodone, etc.), or for episodes of anxiety, like benzodiazepine (Xanax, Ativan, etc.), are very addictive. Misusing prescription drugs or purchasing from a friend is dangerous. Unregulated pills may have something else in it, like heroin or fentanyl, which can be deadly.
Find a Substance Use Disorder Counselor
Teen Link Substance Use Prevention Line
If a teen or an adult concerned about a teen has questions or concerns about drug use, they can now call, chat, or text to connect directly with a Teen Link Substance Use Prevention Clinician. Our staff are able to assist callers with:
Strategies to prevent teen drug use
Access to drug education materials
Finding ways to talk to teens about drugs
Referrals to treatment
Organizing outreach and drug education clinics
and more!
Teen Link Substance Use Prevention line is open from 1-10 pm 7 days a week. We serve youth 21 years of age and younger. To reach us, simply call or text to: 866-833-6546 or click here for chat.