Raising a teenager comes with challenges as you try to help them make their way from childhood to adulthood. As a caring parent, you’ll need to have many conversations with them to keep them on the right track. One of the most important conversations should be about mental health issues and substance use, and how the two can be related.
The conversation about mental health and substance use is important because, one, mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, often manifest during the teen years. In fact, more than 20% of teenagers were diagnosed with a mental health issue in 2023. Second, substance use is also common among teenagers, with close to half of teenagers reporting using illicit drugs or alcohol by the time they reach their senior year in high school.
Mental health disorders and substance use often go hand in hand. Teenagers who experience mental health challenges often turn to substances to medicate their mental health symptoms. If unchecked, their substance use can become a substance use disorder, which is the clinical term for addiction.
The best way to keep this from occurring is to talk to your teen early to educate them on the dangers of substance use, and to help them understand any mental health issues that they are experiencing. They need to know that treatment is available and that you are there to support them.
In order to have a conversation with your child, you should do some homework to learn about common mental health issues and drug and alcohol use among teenagers. You can find many resources online, such as the National Institute of Mental Health and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). You can also speak with your teen’s primary care doctor about mental health support, or their school guidance counselor about substance use among your teen’s peers.
Some of the information that you should be looking for include:
For your teenager, knowledge is power. Studies have shown that education about substance abuse for teenagers reduces the likelihood of substance use. Similarly, understanding mental health issues and learning about the stigma surrounding them may increase the chances of them being open to getting treatment.
When having a conversation with your teen, share all the information that you’ve learned and provide them with resources that they can read on their own. Also, let them know that they need to be careful about information that they may see online, such as on social media, and to look for credible sources.
After educating your teen, let them know that you are available to support them whenever they need you. Tell them that they can come to you with anything, whether it’s a mental health challenge, or substance use struggles. Assure them that you won’t get angry and they won’t get in trouble, and that you’ll work with them to come up with a plan to help them through the problem. They need to trust you so that they come to you without fear.
The conversation should not be a one-time event. You should check in with your teen periodically to see if they want to talk, and to reinforce the information that you gave them and your support. Don’t “hassle” them about it, of course, by checking in too often. Doing so could turn them away. Just bring it up now and then, or talk about when an opportunity comes up, such as when you see a relevant news story about the subject, or you learn new information that you think is important for them to know.
Having the conversation does not necessarily mean that your teen will stay on track, or come to you when they are struggling with their mental health. You should know the signs of both mental health disorders and substance use, some of which are similar.
Signs of mental health issues include:
All of these signs may be indicators of either a mental health disorder or substance use, but substance use can have other signs as well including:
If you notice any of these signs, speak with your teen, and make an appointment with their primary care physician to discuss the next steps for getting your child the help they need.
A conversation with your teen about mental health and substance use is a necessity to protect your child and to intervene early if they have a problem that requires treatment. Information and your support are the keys to ensuring that your child has a healthy, happy future.
At NEMG we offer many treatment options for teens, for both mental health and substance use disorders. We are committed to providing compassionate, comprehensive care to get your teen back on the right path. Give us a call today to learn more.
