Is my teenager using cocaine? This is a frightening question for any parent to have to ask. Cocaine is a powerful stimulant drug and is most popular among teenagers and young adults. The drug can be snorted, injected, or smoked and is highly addictive. Teen cocaine abuse is widespread in the U.S. and can cause many physical and psychological problems, some of them permanent. If you suspect your teen is using cocaine, you should study the signs and symptoms of cocaine abuse to determine if your teen is using.

Cocaine Brain

Teen cocaine abuse has a detrimental effect on the brain, and can cause permanent brain damage and psychological disorders. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens the human brain is still growing during the teen years and is not fully developed until well into the twenties. Teenage drug abuse facts reveal that teens who abuse drugs can alter the way that the brain functions. The undeveloped brain can be damaged in both the short and long term.

Scientific research at Yale University shows that some of the brain changes that take place are the result of the brain trying to protect itself from the cocaine. This study of teen cocaine abuse has revealed how smart our brains really are. The teenage brain will change the shape of brain cells and synapses in an effort to protect itself from the effects of the drug. The scientists found that if they blocked the integrin beta 1 pathway that initiates the change of brain cells and synapses, the effects of cocaine are not deterred. Research continues in the search for genes that can protect the brain from cocaine and other drug effects. Drug Abuse

Teenage drug abuse facts regarding cocaine and other popular substances include:

* About 60% of teens have reported that drugs are used, sold and kept at their school.

* About 15% of young people have used marijuana by the 8th grade.

* Synthetic marijuana (Spice, K2) has been used by 1 in 9 high school seniors.

* About 5% of 12th graders have used cocaine and 2% have used crack.

* Marijuana has been used by 43% of high school seniors.

Is my teenager using cocaine? This is a reasonable question to ask in the current teen drug culture. Teenage drug abuse facts reveal that parents who talk to their teens on a regular basis about the dangers of using alcohol and drugs are decreasing the chance of their child engaging in substance abuse by 42%. Sadly, only 25% of teens have reported that they have actually had these conversations with their parents. The good news is that the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens reports that teenager cocaine abuse has been declining in recent years.

Teenager cocaine abuse can cause obvious changes in behavior and personality. Prolonged abuse of the drug can cause serious health problems for the user. Some of the effects of teenager cocaine abuse are:

* Mood swings, panic, paranoia, anxiety, restlessness, psychosis, hostility, violent behavior, severe depression

* Constricted blood vessels, hyperthermia, increased heart rate, spasms

* Seizures, stroke, heart problems, respiratory failure

* Nervous system impairment, coma and death

Teenager cocaine abuse can cause addiction to develop quickly, and cocaine creates the most difficult psychological dependency of any drug. There are evidence-based effective treatments for cocaine addiction. Teenager cocaine abuse can be treated at a drug rehab facility that provides a medical detox, psychological and behavioral therapy, relapse prevention strategies, and other programs. Teen cocaine abuse does not have to turn into addiction if you get treatment early. If your teen is abusing cocaine, look for a certified rehab center that can get him safely off of the drug and teach him to live a sober life.