A new study released late last month showed that "teenage girls are more likely than teenage boys to perceive the potential benefits from drug use and drinking, making teen girls more vulnerable to drug and alcohol abuse."Here's the gist: girls thinks drugs are a good way to deal with problems like stress or issues at home. In the past, girls didn't want to hang around with drug users. But now, only one-third of girls have that attitude toward illegal substances. This is indicative of how girls see drug and alcohol use overall. In my generation, drug use was a fringe activity. It was reserved for "losers" who were on the fast track to nowhere. Now, using drugs is an acceptable way to deal life's problems. Girls are literally self-medicating.
What can parents and girls' ministry leaders help girls avoid this dead-end path? Here are a few simple thoughts.
1. Check your own attitude and behavior. Here's a tough question to ask yourself is this: could you be guilty of self-medicating? A "glass of wine to help you relax" may not translate so innocently to a teen girl. How often do you drown your sorrows in a gallon of mint chocolate chip ice cream? Do you veg in front of the TV every night? Lose yourself in romance novels—even Christan ones—a little too often? What about the the constant use of prescription medication to alleviate pain? I'm not saying that you and I need to abandon the use of medication when necessary. However, I have to ask myself: is medication the first thing I turn to? Is there another alternative, like dealing with the stress that's causing the headache?
Whether you and I like it or not, girls use us as a barometer to measure acceptable behavior. If they see in us apathy or endorsement, then their own lives are likely to reflect that same attitude. Whether it's self-medicating through chocolate or codeine, girls take their cues from us.
2. Talk about it. More than once. A conversation by definition is a dialogue, not a monologue. It's not about you telling girls to "just say no." They need to have the opportunity to talk, too. Ask about the prevalance of drugs and alcohol at school, at parties, and other places teens gather. Let her talk about the pressure she feels. Help her come up with some solutions when confronted with the issue. Provide a way out if she ever feels she's in a dangerous situation. Just like discussions about sex and purity, conversations about drug and alcohol usage should be an ongoing, open-ended dialogue.
3. Keep a look out for signs of stress. The article indicates that girls tend to use drugs and alcohol as a way to deal with stress. And girls are more stressed out than ever before. By being proactive in spotting and handling stress in girls, you're helping eliminate the need for the substances. So how can you spot stress? Here are some simple things to look for:
- saying she feels pressured or hurried all the time
- irritability and moodiness (outside of the normal fluxuation in teen girls!)
- stomach problems
- headaches
- overreacting to minor problems (flying off the handle at "nothing")
- problems sleeping
- sadness or depression
- a crazy schedule with no margin for rest
Unfortunately, drug and alcohol usage among teen girls has been hiding in the shadows of other issues like cutting, suicide, mean girls, and other "hot" issues. But girls will tell you—it's still a problem that needs to be addressed, even if it's not the most popular topic.
Leave a comment