10 Strategies to Prevent Substance Abuse in Teens

 

During adolescence, the teen brain is in the crucial stage of development making it vulnerable to the harmful effects of drug use. We have shared these top 10 tips to prevent teen substance abuse before and with a new year upon us, the strategies are worth sharing again because they're proven to help youth work toward coping better in stressful situations and living a more balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Resist peer pressure - peers play a large role in adolescents' emotional and social development but they can also play a role in the initiation of drug abuse. When friends experiment with drugs and alcohol, teens may feel pressured to join in. Finding a new group of friends may be beneficial.👐

Abstain from drug use - deciding to eliminate drugs/alcohol should be the teens' own choice with support from parents. Abstinence entails avoiding tempting situations, activities, and distancing from those who encourage drug use.🚭

Seek professional help - when teens are overwhelmed by drug use habits, it is important to seek help from medical professionals. Treatment may include therapy, medication, and detox.

Healthy, balanced lifestyle - teen life can be stressful, so it is important to strive for good health, solid relationships with friends/family/social networks, and daily activities in/out of school such as clubs, sports, and hanging out with friends who are a good influence.👊

Strong family relationships - strong family and parent/child relationships include open communication and a sense of safety that offers security and emotional support between the child and other members of the family.👪

Take time for self-care - teen self-care means taking care of physical and mental health daily to promote wellness in all areas of life and overall self-esteem. Wellness can help teens avoid situations or peers that may cause stress or anxiety.💪

Learn coping skills - coping skills are actions teens can take to improve emotional well-being such as staying busy, exercising, healthy diet, and talking to a trusted adult or friend. Such skills help teens to deal with everyday stress from school and other social situations without turning to drugs.✌

Learn the dangers of drug abuse - knowledge about the dangers of drug use can have a huge effect on teens' decisions to stay away from alcohol and drug use. Knowing the facts and risks, such as declining mental health, weight fluctuations, sleep disturbances, and mood changes, can help teens make healthy and more informed choices.💡 

Take only prescribed medication - teens should always read the instructions printed on prescription and over-the-counter medication labels indicating how many pills should be taken and how many times per day and stick to this schedule to avoid destructive behaviors. Adult supervisions is also encouraged.💊

Practice mindfulness - it is beneficial for teens to engage in mindful activities to reduce stress and promote self-awareness, which may include practicing meditation or yoga, journaling, breathing exercises, and consciously staying present and fully engaged in the present moment.🧠

Our wish is for everyone to be their best selves in 2025!