With the return to school, many young people and adolescents return to their routine and usual responsibilities after a long vacation period. A sudden event that, if not managed correctly, can lead to numerous cases of behavioral disorders. For example, post-vacation syndrome or substance use, among others. Despite being a social and educational environment, reality does not always function as it should, and each individual has their own lifestyle. Therefore, it is easy to be influenced during a first contact with someone and fall into so-called gateway drugs.
The start of the school year is a difficult time, both for minors and for parents. In just a few days, both must prepare for the responsibilities that lie ahead, and if they do not do so correctly, the situation can lead to episodes of stress and anxiety. This can lead to the search for an escape to flee from an unpleasant situation. In the case of parents, they must try to protect their children from the risks and dangers of their daily lives in a chaotic environment, especially in 2020. In the case of minors and adolescents, it may be their first contact with drugs through gateway drugs. This represents the entry point to the use of toxic substances.
What Are Gateway Drugs?
Also called access drugs, these are substances that serve as a first experience for a person in drug use. Typically, nicotine, alcohol, and marijuana are discussed as they are the most economical, most accessible, and most socially accepted substances, among other reasons.
If an adolescent uses drugs for the first time, it is very likely that they are not informed about the subject. Therefore, they will likely adopt irresponsible behavior based on their lack of knowledge, as they are unaware of the risks and consequences that drugs cause. This can quickly lead to increased use and the development of an addiction disorder.
Reasons for Using Gateway Drugs
It is true that each person is unique, and depending on their profile, they may have more or less likelihood of accessing substance use. However, all of them, regardless of their characteristics, share certain reasons for using drugs. Among the most common are:
- To fit in with friends: Very frequently, social status and peer pressure determine the lifestyle that an adolescent must follow if they want to integrate with others.
- To connect with their environment: The ability of drugs to inhibit mental faculties helps minors in certain environments socialize better with others. This makes it easier for them to meet new people more comfortably and without complications.
- To cope with changes: Abrupt alterations in the immediate environment of minors often produce anxiety and fear about what may happen in the future. Therefore, they turn to drugs to feel less threatened. This occurs in situations such as parental divorce, moving, entering a new school, or the onset of adolescence.
- To relieve anxiety: Fear of change and everything that is different from the usual can turn into several stressful episodes. The use of specific drugs can induce states of relaxation that reduce suffering. In this way, they can control their emotional state and keep their self-esteem in check.
Risks of Access to Gateway Drugs
Minors, adolescents, and young people are in a stage of both physiological and psychological growth and development. Therefore, it is normal for them to want to try new things, discover unique experiences, and experiment with drugs. This situation puts them in the focus of consumption and makes them a vulnerable group. On the other hand, their young age increases the degree of danger of the risks due to the possibility of interrupting their vital development or suffering malformations.
Gateway drugs are usually perceived as harmless or even innocuous. By maintaining the habit, they develop a high tolerance capacity when using a drug. This factor accelerates the frequency of use in adolescents and pushes them to try other substances and mix them together.
The main risk of gateway drugs is intoxication. Abusive use of them without being accustomed or in high doses can harm health in the very short term. On the other hand, the need to interact with others and the failure to adopt responsible behavior leads to addictive disorder. While the individual starts by just trying drugs, they may believe that they are having less and less effect and begin to use more. Consequently, the body normalizes the substance and ends up needing it. This translates into psychological dependence in the first phase, and later into addiction.
Signs That Your Child Is Using Drugs
Although parents cannot prevent their children from eventually discovering drug use, they can help them understand how they affect their body. Therefore, it is vital to discover this fact as soon as possible in order to take action. Some signs that indicate an adolescent is using are:
Physical symptoms:
- Slow speech
- Speaking very quickly
- Red eyes
- Excessive coughing
- Unusual bad breath
- Very large or very small pupils
- Rapid eye movement
Psychological symptoms:
- Loss of appetite
- Considerable increase in hunger
- Apathy
- Extreme fatigue
- Hyperactivity
Behavioral symptoms:
- Decline in academic performance
- Unjustified absences
- New friendships or loss of contact with old ones
- Secrecy and excuses to avoid telling the truth
- Minor criminal acts
CCAdicciones is a center for treating addictions and dependency disorders. We can help your child with their drug problem. Contact us and we will provide you with the support you need.
