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

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