Teens and risky behavior: Local expert on role anxiety could play

BARRINGTON, R.I. (WLNE) — “They’ve been developed for, sold to and marketed to young people, on purpose,” said therapist Liz Jorgensen, owner of Insight Counseling in Connecticut. 

But it’s not just slick advertising in a brand-new marketplace that’s to blame for so many Southern New England teens making vaping and marijuana a daily habit. 

“A teenager can engage in a behavior for a very short period of time before they get addicted,” said Jorgensen.

Jorgensen spends much of her time on the road at high schools like Barrington, leaving behind the scripted lessons on why vaping is bad for you, instead raising her voice to wake kids and parents up to the disturbing and often overlooked reasons teens are doing it in the first place.

“Use of these particular substances is causing a wave of mental health disorder,” said Jorgensen

Teens 14 to 20 are now showing the highest anxiety and depression rates we have ever seen. However Jorgensen says parents and kids are falling for the false logic that vaping is making kids more anxious and depressed, when the science suggests mostly the opposite. 

“If they get help for underlying anxiety they really don’t want to vape at all,” said Jorgensen. 

So what should parents make of all this? First, Jorgensen says stop bombarding your teen with “the list” of things they should be doing. 

Second, make sure the lines of communication are open.

“Talk to your kid, and say to them that I care about how you feel and your mental health, and I understand that the anxiety rate is sky high, I don’t want you to feel that way,” said Jorgensen.

If you find pot or vaping materials Jorgensen says, take them away. If the teen does not react harshly, he or she is likely not addicted, she says. However, if there is an angry reaction or if the substance is found again, Jorgensen urges parents not to hesitate in reaching out for professional help for their teen. 

© WLNE-TV / ABC6 2020