Drug addiction 'major concern' for teens

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by Change | 26 Feb 2009

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A study of American teenagers has revealed that issues surrounding drugs and drug addiction are their top concerns.

drug addiction is the number one concern for teenagers in the US, according to a new survey.

Figures compiled by the Center for substance abuse Research, University of Maryland, revealed that young people are increasingly worried about the dangers of drug abuse and the threat of getting hooked on substances.

If their fears are realised, many of the youngsters could end up in rehab centers later in life, the study suggests.

"Parents need to be aware that drugs and drug abuse are a matter of great concern among teens," said Mary Rieser from the Atlanta recovery center Drug Rehab.

The research found that parents often underestimated the importance of drug addiction as a concern for their children, with just 17 per cent of parents saying drugs were the number one problem facing teenagers.

However, over a quarter of teenagers (28 per cent) said that drugs were their number one concern.

"There is a great difference in what parents perceive as a problem their child may face and what their child actually faces," Ms Rieser added.

Drug rehab centers can help to tackle the problems of drug addiction even at an early stage.

The more vigilant a parent is, the better chance they have of catching their child becoming an addict and therefore of stopping them while they still have an opportunity.

Meanwhile, the Dallas examiner reports that drug addiction among young people in the area is on the rise, vindicating the importance placed on drugs among young people in the survey.

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