ADOLESCENT DRUG ADDICTION AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THEIR PARENTS
by Beth Mackay
Research has shown that the younger a person starts abusing illicit drugs and alcohol, they are more prone to developing substance abuse problems later in life (Robert Wood Johnston Foundation, 2001). A recent study done by the South African youth risk beha-viour surveys found that people who begin drinking before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who have their first drink at age 20 or older. Teenagers who drink are far more likely to try illegal drugs. In fact, research shows that 67% of teens who drink before the age of 15 will go on to use illegal drugs. They are 22 times more likely to use marijuana, and 50 times more likely to use cocaine. Some youth start abusing alcohol from age 12 and younger, 60% of Grade 8 to 11 learners who abused alcohol in a local research study had to repeat their grade. Results of a study conducted by the 2002 - 2006 National survey on drug use and health found that one in two teenagers in the average South African home is an user of alcohol and that almost half the learners (49%) interviewed in a recent high school survey said that they had drunk alcohol at some stage during their school career. In the same survey, 15% of boys and 8% of girls said that they had their first drink before the age of 13. Binge drinking can be explained as having five or more drinks in a single session. Half of the students in the survey admitted drinking (23% to 35%) and said that they had a binge drinking session in the month before the survey.
According to Adams et al (1994:9) adolescence can be defined as “a period of experimentation, of practice in making decisions, of making mistakes and discovering one’s errors, and of gradually assuming new freedoms while building towards adult responsibilities.” Adolescent is the transition phase into adulthood. Adolescence can be viewed to start from age 11-13, whereas it ends between ages 17-21 (Louw, 2007:279). Adolescence is therefore a difficult phase of discovering their identity and moving towards adulthood.
Alcohol and drug abuse is on the increase and more and more adolescents have fallen prey to addiction. When a teenager develops a drug addiction problem it often tears families apart. Parents especially blame themselves and feel a sense of responsibility towards the choices that their child has made. Blame, together with fear and anxiety can cause a family to disintegrate as a result of the situation. Addiction has many negative effects on the family. These negative effects include strain on the parents’ marriage, their family life, and lives of other children within the family, the parents’ job and even their finances suffering as a result of it.
Many ascribe addiction to poor parenting, however while poor parenting can contribute to the addiction problem, good parenting does not necessarily prevent it. Parents indicate that the betrayal by their children (through their lies and stealing) is often the biggest burden to bear. The absolute hopelessness of trying everything to help your child and not succeeding is very disheartening.
Support groups can offer parents understanding for their feelings of anger, fear and resentment. It can also be a safe place to learn about your child’s addiction and the crucial lesson of taking care of yourself first in order to be able to deal with the effects of the addiction. The parents will be given the opportunity within the group to deal with all their losses and feeling experienced as a result of their child’s addiction.
According to Berg et al (1992:216) solution-focused therapy, which is based on respect for and collaboration with the client, concentrates on success and solutions. Solution focused therapy is different than traditional approaches in that it minimizes emphasis on past failings and problems, and instead focuses on clients’ strengths and previous successes. There is a focus on working from the client’s understandings of her/his concern/situation and what the client might want different (Trepper et al, 1997).
According to de Shazer, Dolan et al. (2006) the following elements form an integral part of solution focused therapy:
· A positive, collegial, solution-focused stance.
· Looking for previous solutions.
· Looking for exceptions.
· Using the miracle question, scaling question and coping question to generate solutions.
· Questions vs. directives or interpretations.
· Present- and future-focused questions vs. past-oriented focus.
· Compliments.
· Gentle nudging to do more of what is working.
The parents will be challenged to start viewing their situation and their child’s behaviour by focusing on the strengths present in their lives and their environment, thus empowering themselves to be able to handle their child’s situation in a constructive manner.
