Being a parent of addicted adolescents

Being a parent of addicted adolescents


Being the parent of an adolescent battling an addiction can be very challenging. The fear of seeing a loved one – especially a child – battling an addiction can be incredibly daunting. This situation is likely to catalyse a huge swirl of emotions and significant distress. However, with appropriate support mechanisms in place for you and your child, there are ways to effectively support your teenager through this tough time.

Addiction in teens

How common is it?

When dealing with an addiction in the household, it can often feel like you’re completely alone. But there are hundreds of other parents similarly concerned about their teenage children.

A 204 report explored the ‘trends in young people’s substance use’ between April 2022 and March 2023. During this time, there were 12,418 under 18s in contact with addiction services (rising 10% from 11,326 in the previous year). Out of these young people,

  • 79% were younger than 15 when they started using drugs
  • 56% used more than one drug
  • 48% had a mental health treatment need

 The signs

Addiction signs can usually be categorised into three types: emotional, physical and social.

Emotional signs include:

  • Appearing withdrawn
  • Low mood
  • Periods of panic
  • Being quick to anger
  • Becoming easily annoyed
  • A ‘personality change’
  • Lack of interest
  • Apathetic or pessimistic tendencies
  • Periods of being extremely excitable

Physical signs can manifest as cognitive and physiological changes:

  • Slurring speech
  • Dilated pupils
  • Tremors
  • Shaking
  • Restlessness
  • Increased headaches
  • Stomach issues
  • Feeling sick
  • Sleeping changes
  • Changes in appetite
  • Sore or red eyes
  • Runny nose or nosebleeds
  • Unexplained bruises
  • Lethargy

Social difficulties linked to addiction in teens can look like:

  • Shifts in social circles
  • Sudden increase (or decrease) socialising
  • Reduced engagement at school
  • Lower attendance
  • Conflict with family
  • Being argumentative or defensive

Upset boy sitting on sofa while his mother

Why do adolescents get addicted?

It can be difficult to comprehend why a teen may begin engaging with drugs and alcohol so intensely. Addictions in teens – as is the case for any age – can develop for a myriad of reasons. There is not often one cause of addiction. It can usually be more helpful to think of addiction as having several contributing factors. Clinicians have identified that addiction, especially in young people, can be linked to the following:

  1. Genetic predisposition
  2. Mental health difficulties
  3. Experience of abuse
  4. Presence of addiction or mental health issues in the home
  5. Bullying
  6. Peer pressure
  7. Hormone changes

Due to the complex swirl of social and physical changes experienced during the teen years, addiction risk can heighten at this stage of life. A 2009 study suggests that there is evidence to suggest that ‘people who begin experimenting with drugs or abuse during early adolescence are more likely to develop substance use disorders.’

  • 23% were ‘affected by others’ substance abuse
  • 17% experienced domestic abuse
  • 11% were involved with social services as a child
  • 8% had a child protection plan in place
  • 2% were pregnant or a parent
  • 2% were at risk of homelessness
  • 1% experienced housing problems

Whilst many teens starting to struggle with substances experience difficulties at home, this is not the case for all. Some young people may be dealing with pressure in other areas of their lives, such as from their peer group, academic stress, social discrimination or psychological struggles. This means that it is very important to keep an open mind and offer support to your child where possible in order to assist them through any underlying difficulties as much as possible.

Difficulties in identifying teenage drug addiction

The average age of a young person in treatment for addiction between April 2022 and March 2023 was 16. [8] This aligns somewhat with the trajectory of puberty for most teenagers. One of the key difficulties in identifying an addiction in a teen is that the symptoms of dependency can sometimes mimic or even be masked by the social, physical and emotional changes that can be attributed to coming of age.

How to approach the topic of teenage addiction?

As parents, there is a long list of topics that can easily fall into the category of tough conversations. Knowing how to handle tricky conversations is an invaluable skill in navigating a range of sensitive areas, including substance use. The approach to take will vary on many factors, such as the age of your teen, the relationship you have with one another and your own understanding of the mechanics of addiction. This means that what will work for some parents and their children will only sometimes be the best option for others. However, some general advice for bringing up the addiction conversation includes:

  • Practising active listening
  • Set clear boundaries
  • Try to make the conversation as open as possible
  • Educate yourself
  • Assess risk
Practising active listening
We’ve all had conversations where we felt we were not really listened to. When this happens, we can shut down our defences and refuse to communicate. With a situation like an addiction, reducing the risk of this happening is paramount. You can do this by practising active listening techniques. This can include:

  • Asking questions
  • Offering reassurance
  • Not interrupting
  • Giving eye contact
  • Avoid judgement
  • Giving full attention
Set clear boundaries
As a parent, it is important for you to set firm but fair boundaries around engagement with substances, especially in your household. Make this conversation as clear as possible. Being too loose with rules can cause a deepening of difficulties, whereas being too stringent can lead to increased defensiveness or ‘rebellion.’
Try to make the conversation as open as possible
Try to nurture a culture of honesty in the home. This increases the likelihood that your teen will feel able to turn to you in difficult situations and, hopefully, be more transparent about their engagement with drugs and alcohol.
Educate yourself
There are many preconceptions and stereotypes around addiction – particularly in young people. To have a more accurate and appropriate understanding of addiction, educating yourself by engaging with trustworthy, educational content either online or in print can be useful.
Assess risk
Perhaps the most important way to help your teenager manage their addiction is to help them assess risk. Knowing who to contact and when can alleviate some of the panic involved in the situation.

Accessing Support

For parents of addicts

Supporting a loved one can take a lot of energy and effort. In these cases, people often find the need to help themselves.

Support for parents includes:

  • Family therapy
  • Support groups
  • Individual therapy
  • Crisis helplines

For struggling teens

To get professional help for your teenager, you can access:

  • Charity referrals
  • Support groups
  • Addiction rehab
  • Charities (such as Childline)
  • Social work support
  • Crisis helplines

Get help

At Primrose Lodge, we know that addiction is a very heavy weight to bear alone. This is why we strive to offer the best specialist, confidential support in the sector.  We provide individuals struggling with dependency the opportunity to engage with innovative treatment. Our rehab programmes are fully flexible and unique to you. From addiction counselling to monitored detox, all our interventions are facilitated by clinical professionals. Take the first steps towards lightening the load of addiction by contacting our team for an initial consultation.

(Click here to see works cited)

  • https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-young-people-2022-to-2023/young-peoples-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2022-to-2023-report
  • https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-young-people-2022-to-2023/young-peoples-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2022-to-2023-report
  • https://youth.gov/youth-topics/substance-abuse/warning-signs-adolescent-substance-abuse
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5771977/
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3025448/
  • https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-young-people-2022-to-2023/young-peoples-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2022-to-2023-report
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8341207/
  • https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/substance-misuse-treatment-for-young-people-2022-to-2023/young-peoples-substance-misuse-treatment-statistics-2022-to-2023-report
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4844478/#:~:text=Active%20listening%20requires%20listening%20for,important%20to%20say%20(5).
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Calls and contact requests are answered by admissions at

UK Addiction Treatment Group.

We look forward to helping you take your first step.

0203 553 9263