How to Start a Conversation with Your Teen About Substance Abuse: Practical Tips for Parents

Drug and alcohol use and addiction is prevalent across the globe, regardless of demographic. Whether you’re male, female, or non-binary, wealthy or impoverished, elderly or a teenager, substance addiction can severely impact your life, directly or indirectly.
From psychological health issues to organ dysfunction and other debilitating symptoms of addiction, the effects of frequent and excessive drug and alcohol use manifests in many adverse forms. This is especially the case with teenagers, who are not only more impressionable and prone to developing antisocial forms of behaviour due to substance use, but also because their brains are still developing.
What is Substance Addiction?
Substance addiction is a chronic brain disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It is officially recognised as a brain disease, despite the misconceptions that many people believe – the misconception that than a lack of discipline or will, addicted people experience a range of physical and psychological changes when exposed to addictive substances such as drugs and alcohol.
Substance Addiction Among Teenagers in Ghana
Substance addiction among teenagers isn’t uncommon. In fact, many teenagers engage in drug or alcohol consumption. A study published by BioMed Central discovered that among adolescents in Ghana (aged 10 to 17 years old), the prevalence of substance use was at 12.3%, with alcohol and cigarettes being the most common substances.
There is clearly an issue where children and teenagers are exposed to addictive and psychoactive substances at a young age. While consuming alcohol doesn’t mean that the child will develop a substance addiction, they are more likely to develop a dependence at a young age. Additionally, alcohol can act as a “gateway” and lead to the use of heavier, more dangerous substances.
Why Talking About Substance Abuse Matters
It’s important that we can talk about substance use disorder (SUD), not just with our teenagers but with other members of our community in Ghana. The more we avoid a subject, the more taboo it becomes. As a result, this makes it difficult for addicted people – even friends and family members – to confide in others and seek out support when they need it.
As members of the community, we have a responsibility to emphasise that communication should build trust. As more people are educated about the complexities of substance addiction as a disease – not a lifestyle or a choice – the more we can facilitate non-judgemental conversations and safe spaces.
By creating a safer space in our communities, we are creating a solid foundation in which we can build upon to support our family and friends suffering from addiction.
Neurology & Empathy: Understanding the Teenage Mind
Neuroscientific evidence points towards the brain not being fully developed until we are around the age of 25. This means that although the legal drinking age in Ghana is 18, newly-turned adults are still vulnerable to the effects of addiction, and are more susceptible to developing a dependence.
Science of the Teenage Brain
When we consume drugs, alcohol, or other substances that provide pleasure, your reward pathways are stimulated. This leads to a release of dopamine, which encourages us to take part in this activity again. Those who are younger have more pliable reward pathways, because they have a higher level of neuroplasticity. This means that the more they engage with drugs and alcohol, the more dependent these reward pathways may become.
Social and Environmental Factors
In addition to the chemical brain alterations that teenagers are more vulnerable to, it’s important to understand the wider contexts of their behaviour and what influences them.
There are many social and environmental factors that may drive a teenager to consume drugs and alcohol:
- Peer pressure: One of the most common driving forces of drug and alcohol consumption among young adults and teenagers is peer pressure. People often like to portray a more independent, autonomous and adventurous personality around others, and forgoing drugs or alcohol can make someone seem “uncool” among their peers.
- Social media influence: Teenagers are constantly exposed to social media platforms, whether Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and so on. Depending on their algorithm and who they follow, they may be exposed to influencers or content that promotes these forms of lavish lifestyles.
- Anxiety: Teenagers develop a greater sense of self-awareness, and this can lead to feelings of insecurity and anxiety. Social anxiety is a common reason why people turn to alcohol, as its short-term benefits often result in increased confidence in social settings.
- Issues at home: Teenagers who are suffering from issues in their home life, whether domestic abuse, neglect, and so on, may turn towards drugs and alcohol as a form of self-medication.
How to Talk to Your Teen About Substance Use
It can be difficult understanding how to not only prepare yourself but how to bring up the topic of substance use and substance addiction with your teenager. Here’s how you can improve the efficacy of your conversation with your younger family member.
How to Prepare Yourself Beforehand
- Empathise: While we don’t want them to engage in these activities of excessive alcohol consumption – or drug consumption – we need to understand why they are behaving like this. Rather than displaying feelings of frustration or anger, it’s important that we demonstrate compassion.
- Educate yourself: It’s important that you educate yourself about the substance that your teen is taking. Additionally, take into consideration anything that may be influencing their behaviour, whether there are external pressures, troubles, or who they are surrounding themselves with.
How to Talk to Your Teen About Substance Abuse
- Put yourself in their shoes: Another way to empathise is to put yourself in their situation. Perhaps you had similar experiences when you were younger, or your teen is dealing with greater levels of adversity. Regardless of their circumstance, try to understand their why.
- Avoid accusations: It’s important that you don’t accuse them of anything. Rather than accusing them of behaving in a certain way, it’s important to ask them a question instead.
- Listen: When you’ve asked them questions, be sure to listen. Avoid interrupting, and don’t “lecture” them. Not only will listening allow you to hear and see more about how their explanation unfolds, it also creates trust. You want to create a non-judgemental environment that encourages them to speak (without you having to directly ask them to speak out).
- Create a safe space: Reiterate that you’re not angry, you’re just concerned about their behaviour or health. Be ready to honestly share your concerns and why you are worried for their health.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you’re certain that your teenager is suffering from a drug or alcohol addiction, you may need to consider seeking professional help. Professional help can come in a wide range of forms, and it doesn’t necessarily have to mean admission into a drug and alcohol rehab.
Your teenager may be reluctant to admit that they are suffering from addiction or receive support. Or, they may be open about their problem and accept the idea of support.
There are many different forms of professional help:
- Professional intervention: If someone is reluctant to admit that they have a problem and unwilling to receive support, you can contact a licensed interventionist. A licensed interventionist will help coordinate a time and place where you can stage an intervention. This interventionist will ensure that the process is done in a non-confrontational manner that is conducive to your teen’s recovery.
- Community programs: Community programs, whether mental health support or substance addiction programs can help provide wealth or resources, counselling, and more to your teen. Whether they provide an outlet for them to communicate their issues in the form of a support group, or a new way to express themselves and socialise without the use of addictive substances, community programs come in a wide range of forms.
- Detox: If the addicted teen is suffering from severe physical withdrawal symptoms, they may need to undergo a medicated home detox. This ensures that they can recover without suffering from extreme withdrawal symptoms such as vomiting, delirium tremens, psychosis, seizures, and so on.
- Licensed counselling: A licensed counsellor can help your teen by hosting 1–1 and personalised sessions with them. This will allow your teen to communicate their issues in a safe space with a professional and full disclosure. CBT – or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – is a form of communication therapy that can help patients develop self-awareness and understand the causes of their substance addiction and behaviours.
- School counselling: Your teen’s school may be able to provide additional forms of counselling to ensure that they are coping at school, not just academically, but socially and emotionally. School counsellors can help your student develop coping mechanisms whether it be related to academic struggles, bullying, social issues, and more.
- Drug and alcohol rehab: Your teen’s substance addiction may be severe enough to warrant admission into a drug and alcohol rehab. If your teen is diagnosed with a moderate to extreme form of addiction, they may enter a drug and alcohol rehab to optimise their recovery. They can enter as an outpatient – which means that they can continue living at home and undergo education at school – or they can be admitted as an inpatient at a residential rehab, where they will focus entirely on their recovery.
Establishing Healthy Boundaries at Home
It’s important that you establish healthy boundaries when dealing with a family member that is suffering from substance addiction. Not only will this improve your life, but it can help your loved one become more aware of their addiction and how their compulsive behaviour affects others.
Here’s how you can establish healthy boundaries:
- Establish house rules: It’s important that you directly establish boundaries with your child. Whether this means a curfew, the absence of addictive substances, mandatory house chores, or something else, it’s important to help them realise that discipline leads to structure and preserved health.
- Encourage accountability: Rather than punishing your loved one if they misbehave or relapse, you need to teach them about accountability. Try not to display anger in their misbehaviour or compulsive habits, but it’s important that you don’t enable them when trying to help them. Supporting them too much can – in counterintuitive fashion – encourage them to get away with their negative behaviour, because they think that they can rely on you to clean up their mess.
- Set an example: You may be able to consume alcohol without feeling compelled to keep drinking, but you should set an example for your child. If you lead by example, you’ll also foster a more hospitable recovery and home environment for your loved one.
Foster Dialogue and Support Your Loved One
Starting a conversation with your teen about substance use isn’t easy, but it’s one of the most important steps a parent can take to protect their child’s health. Addiction doesn’t discriminate, and the developing brain of a teenager is only more vulnerable to not only developing a dependence but also the toxic effects of addictive substances. By approaching the topic with empathy, patience, and informed understanding, parents can open doors for honest communication and early intervention.
In Ghana, where community and family ties are deeply valued, fostering open dialogue at home can make a powerful difference. When teens feel safe to share their struggles without fear of judgment or punishment, they are more likely to seek help and make better choices.