The landscape of teenage drug use in the UAE is changing. Reports from the authorities suggest that adolescents are experimenting with drugs at a younger age and using different kinds of substances, including prescription medications and other sedatives. Meanwhile, the ways that young people are exposed to – and obtain – drugs are shifting, with social media playing an ever-increasing role.
Despite the prevalence of teen drug use in the UAE, widespread prevention strategies are still lacking. Both adolescents and experts highlight the need for school-based prevention programs and parental support to help young people stay safe and identify and support young people who may be using substances harmfully.
How Is Teenage Drug Use in the UAE Changing?
According to the UAE authorities, the age at which young people first use drugs is falling. Children as young as 12 may be trying substances, sometimes obtained through WhatsApp or social media. Young teenagers usually lack accurate information about the substances they take and may have received false information from peers or drug sellers.
These trends put young people at risk of various types of harm, both in the present and in the future. Research has well-documented that the early onset of drug use is associated with a range of psychological and social harms, including substance use disorders. Early onset alcohol use is linked to the development of mental health symptoms like anxiety or depression, while taking cannabis at an early age is associated with later psychosis and unemployment.
What Role Does Social Media Play in Teen Drug Use in the UAE?
In recent years, social media has become a key platform where drugs are sold and obtained. Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat accounts are used to promote and sell substances, while some sellers send out mass messages on WhatsApp, advertising drugs for young people to buy.
These practices mean that young people are easily exposed to drug sellers, even without friends or real-life acquaintances who use drugs. Teenagers may also be vulnerable to misinformation about the effects and risks of a specific substance from these sources, especially if they haven’t received accurate information about drugs from parents, schools, or health institutions.
What Are Sedatives and How Do Young People Use Them?
Earlier this year, the UAE ministry warned against the use of sedatives by school students in the UAE. Sedatives are a type of substance that slows the brain down, helping people to calm down, relax, or go to sleep. Prescription sedatives like benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax and Valium) may be prescribed by doctors for the treatment of panic disorders. At the same time, zolpidem (Ambien) is used to treat insomnia and other sleep disorders.
However, prescription sedatives are easily misused, and young people may take them recreationally to feel relaxed or experience a high. Some adolescents also self-medicate, using sedatives to cope with mental health symptoms without obtaining a prescription.
Sedatives often have dangerous side effects, especially when mixed with alcohol or other types of depressant drugs. Overdosing on alcohol and benzodiazepines can be fatal. Physical dependence on benzodiazepines builds very quickly, and sudden withdrawal can cause life-threatening side effects.
Students in the UAE often hold misconceptions about sedatives, believing that they may treat depression and fatigue, increase their energy levels, or improve their memory. These misconceptions can encourage teenagers to take the substances without a prescription, putting them at risk of harm.
How Has UAE Law Enforcement Around Substance Use Changed?
The UAE has a zero-tolerance policy on the possession and consumption of illegal substances, criminalising all drug use and giving harsh penalties to those who violate the law. Young people under the age of 21 may also face criminal charges for drug possession.
These policies have made it more difficult for people affected by drug addiction or abuse to seek the medical support they require. They also discourage young people from having open conversations about drugs and their experiences, making it harder to identify and prevent harmful behaviours.
However, these policies may be undergoing gradual changes. Since 2021, the law has allowed for first-time offenders to attend a rehabilitation program instead of facing criminal charges. Individuals with substance use disorders who present themselves to the authorities, and those reported by their families, also receive medical support rather than prison sentences.
What Do Young People in the UAE Think About Substance Use?
A 2020 study asked teenagers in the UAE about their perceptions of alcohol and substance use. They found that:
- Older teenagers had more knowledge about drugs than younger adolescents
- Teenagers tended to lack knowledge about the dangers of drug use
- Teenagers cited peer pressure as a major reason for drug use, as well as a possible protective factor, depending on the opinions and practices of a friendship group
- They also cited family communication, support, and understanding as a protective factor
- Teenagers called for more school-led awareness programs about drug use and substance abuse
How Can School-Based Education Programs Help?
One of the most widely supported strategies for preventing substance abuse among young people is through school-based programs. School-based programs aim to make schools safe spaces while helping to protect young people from harmful substance use in general.
While information sharing usually makes up a part of drug prevention programs, information-oriented strategies alone have a limited impact. Instead, effective programs combine drug awareness with skills development that reduce risk factors and enhance protective factors, making it less likely that teenagers will choose to misuse substances. The aim of educational programs isn’t to ‘control’ drug-related behaviours, but to influence them through the growth of knowledge, skills, and values.
For example, school-based educational programs may support young people to manage social pressure to use drugs by developing skills like assertiveness, coping, and communication.
What Role Can Parents Play?
Parents can play an essential role in preventing drug abuse, supporting teenagers to understand the risks of substance use and make good decisions. Having open, non-judgmental, and non-stigmatising conversations can go a long way in protecting young people’s well-being.
Speaking Openly About Drugs in the Family
In some families, drugs are considered a taboo subject that’s avoided in conversations. But stigmatising drugs stops young people from gaining the knowledge that can safeguard their well-being. It also means that teenagers are less likely to reach out for support when they need it.
Conversations about drugs shouldn’t only happen once. Instead, parents need to revisit the topic regularly, normalising these kinds of discussions within the family. This will make it easier for teenagers to open up to parents about drug-related experiences, ask questions, and seek advice and support.
In many families, religious and cultural beliefs underpin their views about drugs. Parents may want to explain these beliefs and how they influence their understanding and practices.
Sharing Reliable Information About the Risks of Drugs
Parents should clearly explain the risks of using drugs to young people, including the dangers of specific substances that teenagers are more likely to encounter. It’s important to show that you’re trying to support them and acting from a place of care.
Throughout these conversations, parents should remain non-judgmental. If a young person shares something that makes you feel worried or angry, try to stay calm and think about what you can do to keep them safe. Angry or emotional reactions may discourage them from sharing their experiences with you in the future.
Placing Boundaries
Parents can make agreements with young people and place boundaries that will help keep them safe. This might involve thinking about how they act and respond to situations they encounter when they’re out with their friends. It might also include the ways they use social media.
Mental Health Support for Substance Use Disorders
Sometimes, drug misuse can develop into a physical dependence or addiction. This happens when a young person uses a substance repeatedly over time, but for some drugs, dependence and addiction can develop very quickly. Certain risk factors make some young people more likely to become addicted to a substance.
Drug misuse can also contribute to or exacerbate other mental health disorders. Substances affect the balances of chemicals in a young person’s brain and their physical well-being. Drug misuse may also harm relationships, education, and passions and interests, all of which influence mental health.
If a young person develops a substance use disorder or another mental health disorder, they require professional support to recover. The good news is that, with the right support, recovery is possible, no matter how serious a young person’s symptoms are.
The most effective treatment approaches for each young person depend on the condition they are experiencing and their individual characteristics. Mental health support for substance use disorders usually involves a combination of treatment approaches, including behavioural therapies, family interventions, and, in some cases, medication.
Doctors and psychologists also support young people through the withdrawal process, helping them to manage any withdrawal symptoms and ensuring they stay safe at all times.
The Wave Clinic: Specialist Recovery Programs for Young People
The Wave Clinic offers specialist mental health support for children, teenagers, young adults, and families. We provide residential and outpatient care, including a diverse selection of treatment modalities, personal curriculum learning, vocational education, and enriching experiences. Our programs are family-centred and trauma-focused, offering a whole-person, social approach to mental health support.
Our programs for substance use disorders combine behavioural therapies with experiential activities, creative therapies, and other forms of support. We address experiences of trauma and other co-occurring disorders from the start of our programs, promoting meaningful and long-lasting recovery.
If you’re interested in finding out more about our programs, get in touch today.
