This post is an interview with David Heckenlively, MS, MFT, CEO and Therapeutic Consultant, who shares the recent drug trends among teens. His website is Integrated Teen Services, solutions and support for at-risk adolescents and their families.
My first phone call with David was in June 2005. I was in Colorado, having just discovered that my daughter was using drugs. She had gone out with her boyfriend to say her final goodbye, as we were leaving for California the next day to get her treatment for her substance use problem. When I think back to that time, it’s curious, but I don’t remember being concerned that she would return. Luckily, she did, and I believe it was because she was finally ready to move forward with her life.
A friend, who was a new marriage and family therapist, had just heard David speak a few days earlier and was able to give me his contact information. David called me back promptly that evening. I’m sure he could hear the anxiety in my voice. I immediately felt reassured that he could offer some answers and direction for our family.
At that time, I was new to the world of substance use. I really cannot imagine making these decisions on my own without guidance. Searching online for treatment centers and reading lists of facilities is overwhelming, to say the least.
Here is David’s interview.
WHAT ARE THE DRUG AND/OR ALCOHOL TRENDS THAT YOU ARE NOW SEEING?
Right now, I see several ongoing trends that are seriously and negatively affecting our youth, families, and community. I don’t think there is any surprise that one of them is the rampant use of marijuana. The recent attempt to legalize pot in California (my state) has only exacerbated and confounded the problem.
Rather than getting into a debate with people about whether it should ever be legalized, or with parents about whether moderate amounts are “OK”, I believe that parents need to start by asking themselves if any teenager should be smoking pot, or drinking, given their fragile, developing brains, and all the critical tasks they need to accomplish.
The biggest problem out there is the mixed messages that parents give their kids. Parents are getting into a negotiation with their kids about substance use.
The next big category of drug use trends is the use of prescription medications. Teenagers or young adults either take them from their parents and then buy or sell them illegally on the street or at school. They may also be misused with a prescription.
OxyContin is the main one I see as a big problem in my practice. When used correctly and with a prescription from a physician, it is used to relieve moderate to severe pain. It is in a class of medications called opiate (narcotic) analgesics. It works by altering how the brain and nervous system respond to pain.
I have seen teens and young adults develop deep and recalcitrant mental, behavioral, emotional, and physical problems from their addiction to this drug. Much of the time, outpatient treatment isn’t enough if a person has been misusing OxyContin.
Don’t negotiate is what I preach a lot to parents.
Remember the Big Three:
1) Confront the use of substances
2) Set limits or boundaries (i.e., drug testing)
3) Seek your own support (i.e,. CODA or ALANON-12 Step meetings).
WHAT AGE GROUP SEEMS TO BE MOST AFFECTED?
The age group is spreading to a broader range. I’ve got clients who developed serious addictions at age 11 or 12 but are just now getting help in the latter part of their teenage years. There are more and more young people in their mid-20s who have “failed to launch,” and it’s got a lot to do with severe addictions to drugs and a combination of other behavioral, mental health, and emotional issues that have gotten worse.
The key is for parents to get their kid assessed early and often when the kid is younger to develop an age-appropriate plan. Typically, drug use starts after the kid has already manifested learning differences or challenges and shown some early signs of either anxiety or depression. They may have developed less seemingly harmful habits to things like computers or even just isolating.
Don’t expect your kid to ask for help: another aspect of being a teen is sending you veiled messages you have to decipher as a parent.
WHAT IS THE RATIO OF GIRLS TO BOYS THAT YOU SEE?
Recently, I have seen more boys and young men in my practice. I believe that girls develop addiction issues like boys, but it appears to be a secondary issue for girls more often than for boys.
Girls seem to get less enamored with the added elements of drug use, like the rituals of using and dealing drugs (and a sense of power/control), than boys. Certainly, some young ladies are into the broader drug culture. I see young men obsess more of the time, which is a huge aspect of the addictive cycle that puts a stranglehold on the executive functioning part of the brain, the frontal lobe, from reasoning that often, trouble will be in store.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS PARENTS SHOULD LOOK FOR?
I think parents should start by addressing their kids’ learning issues if they suspect there is a problem. The earlier, the better. If your kid is starting to lie about his whereabouts, that is another red flag. It doesn’t mean, necessarily, that drugs are involved, but it probably means your child feels afraid to tell you what’s going on for fear of your reaction.
I’ve seen families who aren’t afraid to come to another therapist or me when they see early warning signs. This is a way to get back on track with their teen so that deeper, darker patterns don’t emerge.
A lot more teens today are willing to talk about their drug use, or at least admit that they’ve tried it. This shouldn’t scare you when they do this. This is an opportunity to begin the process of establishing the priorities for the family, to try to reconnect on emotional levels, and to clarify your boundaries as they relate to drugs or alcohol. Even if it’s not what they tell you, kids want you to be direct.
If you want to learn more about David and what he does for teens, young adults, and their families, visit his website at or contact him at (925) 681-1700.
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