017 - Why Teens are More Prone to Addiction

Addiction is something that is near and dear to Penny's heart because it has affected people that she loves. Teens are especially prone to addiction, so it is vital to talk to our daughters about this to help them know how to prevent future problems.  Teen Brains are especially susceptible to addiction Risk Factors: Biology, Environment, Immature Brain development Teen Brain uses emotional center and is hardwired to learn. It’s better at learning addiction than an adult brain. Teens are addicted to a lot of different things Drugs, alcohol, smoking, vaping, pornography, exercise, shopping, gambling, smartphones, and the internet Effects of Addiction are long-lasting Harder to unlearn  Missed opportunities Can cause brain to stay in the emotional part and not mature to use the frontal lobe. Inability to pay attention and focus. Signs of addiction to watch for Most addictions share signs Depression and anxiety Withdrawl Changes in sleep/eating patterns Irritability Dropping Grades What to do if you suspect your teen has a problem Talk! Offer unconditional love Validate Find better ways to fill their needs Find treatment if necessary Resources: OHEL, Addictions in Children and Adolescents, https://www.ohelfamily.org/?q=mental_health/addiction_children_and_adolescents SlickText, Smartphone Addiction Statistics, https://www.slicktext.com/blog/2019/10/smartphone-addiction-statistics/ Tech Jury, Smartphone Addiction Statistics, https://techjury.net/blog/smartphone-addiction-statistics/#gref Sarah Karnasiewicz, 7 Scary Things You Never Knew About Cell Phone Addiction, https://www.health.com/condition/anxiety/cell-phone-addiction SOS Safety Magazine, 7 Signs of a Porn Addicted Child, https://sossafetymagazine.com/internet-safety/7-signs-of-a-porn-addicted-child/ Walden Behavioral Care, https://www.waldeneatingdisorders.com/blog/9-warning-signs-of-exercise-addiction/ National Institute on Drug Abuse,  https://www.drugabuse.gov/drug-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/monitoring-future-2019-survey-results-overall-findings Sophie Scott and Rebecca Armitage, ABC, Teenagers Porn Use on the Rise, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-30/teenagers-porn-use-on-the-rise-research-says/8664842 Eating Disorder Hope, https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/information/statistics-studies#General-Statistics-on-Eating-Disorders John Lee, What are Some Warning Signs of Teenage Gambling Problem, https://www.choosehelp.com/topics/gambling-addiction/teen-gambling-and-teen-problem-gambling/what-are-some-warning-signs-of-a-teen-gambling-problem Good Therapy, Compulsive Shopping, https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/compulsive-shopping Heather Hatfield, Web-MD, Shopping Spree or Addiction?, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/features/shopping-spree-addiction#1 NCP Gambling, High School Gambling Fact Sheet, https://www.ncpgambling.org/files/HS_Fact_Sheet.pdf Frances Jensen, The Power of the Adolescent Brain: A TAG Talk, https://youth.gov/sites/default/files/TAG-Talk_Adolescent-Brain-Power_Segment-3.pdf