How much will my adolescent grow? The teenage years are also called adolescence. During this time, parents will see the greatest amount of growth in height and weight in their child. Adolescence is a time for growth spurts and puberty changes. An adolescent may grow several inches in several months followed by a period of very slow growth, then have another growth spurt. Changes with puberty (sexual maturation) may occur gradually or several signs may become visible at the same time.

Young people go through many changes during adolescence. These changes include physical changes, as well as changes to their thought processes and emotions (cognitive and emotional changes), sense of identity and values (psychological changes), relationships (social changes), and realistic aspirations for the future. All young people are unique and therefore the degree, rate and pace of specific physical, emotional and social changes varies with each young person.

Many people around the world define adolescence as the period of life between 10 to 19 years of age. If you are between 10 and 19 years old, you are an adolescent. Congratulations! You are a special person! Of course, you have always been special and always will be. But for now you are extra special. You are going through a lot of changes and trying out new things-from new looks and new identities to new experiences, like going out with friends, holding hands and kissing.

he physical changes the body goes through in adolescence are the most rapid it has seen since infancy. The major physical changes, and some of the ways they affect behavior, are outlined here. Puberty The most salient physical change during adolescence is puberty. Puberty marks the onset of the capability of reproduction. In the United States, the average age for girls to begin menstruating is 12.5 years, with European American girls typically starting a bit later than African American girls (Brooks-Gunn & Reiter, 1990).

Adolescence in American and Western European cultures is a time of enormous emotional as well as physical changes. Although each child is an individual and grows and develops in his or her own unique way, there are some predictable stages. When parents know what to expect, they can provide better help and support as their child moves through this often emotionally tumultuous time.

During adolescence, you'll notice changes in the way your child interacts with family, friends and peers. Every child's social and emotional development is different. Your child's development is shaped by your child's unique combination of genes, brain development, environment, experiences with family and friends, and community and culture. Social and emotional changes show that your child is forming an independent identity and learning to be an adult.

Adolescence is the time when you begin changing from a kid to an adult. This doesn't happen overnight - in fact it happens over several years. It starts with puberty when hormone levels rise and start the body changes needed to turn you into a young man or woman, and goes on for many years until you are ready to live an independent adult life.

Many people have never experienced addiction of any sort. For these people it can be very hard to understand and grasp the logic behind drug abuse. But with drug use getting more and more prevalent in America, it's now common for people to dig deeper and look for the reasons why people use drugs and alcohol. This is not meant to be a complete list, nor is is meant to be medical advise, but I feel this article can shed some light for addicts or family members of addicts dealing with this burning question…

Throughout history, people have used different kinds of drugs to change the way they feel or see the world. Different cultures have developed social rituals and rules around drug use as a way to control their impact on society. Drugs and how they are used also have different meanings in different cultures. For example in the Pacific Islands, kava is drunk as a means of making contact with the supernatural, to welcome visitors to the community and to cure illnesses. Some Native American Indians use a mushroom that causes dream-like states as a way of getting in touch with the Great Spirit. We use alcohol to celebrate special events like birthdays and weddings.

Young people try drugs for many reasons including relaxation, socialising, curiosity or peer pressure. Alcohol, tobacco and cannabis are the most commonly used drugs by teenagers. Around one in five teenagers have tried cannabis at least once. Parents can reduce the risk of drugs for their children with some strategies.

Why people take drugs There are many reasons why people take drugs. Here are some of the factors which can influence them:

If there are people around, then there are drug users around. It is simple as that, people have been using drugs to get high since prehistoric times, and they aren't going to stop anytime soon. Chances are you might be addicted to a drug, like nicotine or caffeine.