You’re a parent of a teenager who wants nothing more than to provide your child with the conditions that will allow them to reach their full potential – but you’re scared that peer pressure may have persuaded them to try with illegal drugs. You should know, and we can help.

Teenagers are particularly susceptible to drug and alcohol misuse. Approximately 15% of 10th and 12th graders have used amphetamines, 20% of 8th graders have used marijuana, and an estimated 1.8 million (0.8%) of teenagers aged 12 and up are current cocaine users. The good news is that most teenagers do not use drugs; nevertheless, those who do might experience a variety of hazardous adverse effects on the brain and body during this vital period in their personal development.

A few of the main reasons that parents decide to get their teenagers tested:

• Even a single use of drugs can impair a person’s judgment, resulting in accidents, poor academic and athletic performance, dangerous conduct and decision making, and even the chance of overdose.

• Repeated drug misuse can lead to more serious problems in a teen’s life, such as chronic low academic performance, emotional disorders including despair, anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, and drug-related social or family problems.

• Repeated drug usage can also result in the disease of addiction. According to studies, the earlier a teen starts taking drugs, the more probable he or she is to develop a drug misuse issue or addiction. The sooner you address and resolve substance usage difficulties, the less likely they are to have a problem later in life.