SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS

Marijuana, Alcohol, Cigarettes, Vaping and Pills

Substance use in teens is challenging to treat because so many view experimenting with drugs and alcohols as a teenage rite of passage. Teens may try marijuana or other substances to "fit in" and quickly find their use increasing and impacting their functioning at home or at school. Marijuana can affect the developing adolescent brain and predispose teens to more serious mental illness later in life. Teens often self-medicate with drugs to deal with problems with mood, ADHD or anxiety. If you suspect your child is abusing drugs, please seek help with a child psychiatrist. It may be more than just experimentation, and untreated substance abuse can destroy a young person's future.