Drugs, Alcohol, and Teen Dating Abuse
Teens may feel peer pressure to drink alcohol or try drugs. Some teens take alcohol or drugs to cope with emotional pain. Emotional pain may be caused by one or more traumatic events. Data1 says that boys who report dating abuse are more likely to use marijuana or be antisocial. Girls who report dating abuse are more likely to:
- Smoke.
- Have suicidal thoughts.
- Be depressed.
- Binge drink.
Teens also may be coerced into using drugs or alcohol by an abusive partner to:
- Control them through drug or alcohol addiction.
- Make them do things they would not normally agree to.
- Keep them from reporting the abuse.
A teen may feel afraid to report abuse if they were high or drunk. This may be because the teen is afraid of getting into trouble. They may feel ashamed or at fault. They may be afraid the person who did it will plan revenge. A local domestic abuse advocate can talk about ways to stay safer if more abuse is a risk.
No one deserves to be abused. It does not matter if they use drugs or alcohol. It does not matter what they say or do. It does not matter if they change their mind about what they agree to do. Drugs and alcohol do not make a person abuse their partner. Blaming abuse on drugs or alcohol is an excuse. There are people who can help teens who have been abused even if they were drunk or high at the time.
To reach the National Dating Abuse hotline, call 1-866-331-9474 or text loveis to 22522. Or visit the websites:
Reference
1. Exner-Cortens, Deinera, John Eckenrode, and Emily Rothman. "Longitudinal Associations Between Teen Dating Violence and Adverse Health Outcomes." Pediatrics. Abstract. Jan. 2013.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2012/12/05/peds.2012-1029