When you think about athletes, you often think of those who take proper care of their bodies so that they can excel in their chosen sports. At the high school level, this is often true — but there are also many high school athletes who abuse drugs. If you're a parent of a high school athlete, you need to accept that there are many reasons that your son or daughter may turn to drugs, and you should thus watch for signs of drug use. Should you suspect that your teenager is taking drugs of any kind, find a treatment center that specializes in helping teenagers. Here are some forms of drug use that can occur among high school athletes:

Marijuana

A significant percentage of high school students uses marijuana; one estimate suggests that 13 percent of 12^th grade students smoke the drug. It's not only non-athletes who use marijuana in high school-- many athletes also rely on this substance to get high. High school athletes may use marijuana for different reasons. Being a high school athlete can be stressful, given the need to balance schoolwork with one's athletic schedule, as well as playing with the hopes of obtaining a college scholarship. It's possible that your child turns to marijuana in an effort to relax and reduce stress.

Performance-Enhancing Drugs

Some young athletes experiment with different performance-enhancing drugs with the hopes of improving their play and hopefully getting a college scholarship. The competition for scholarships is so intense that some athletes believe that drugs can give them a boost that will push them forward. As many as seven percent of high school students may have tried anabolic steroids, according to one study. Given that many high school athletes hear stories of professional athletes using these drugs, doing so can be tempting.

Legal Drugs

You should also be wary about your high school athlete using legal drugs. This type of drug use is common after injuries.; for example, a football player who is recovering from surgery may be prescribed a potent painkiller, which may certainly be necessary early on. The trouble is that the student may take the drug in larger doses because of the good feeling that it provides, and this can lead to a serious dependency — in some cases, culminating with the teen seeking out illegal drugs in an effort to provide the high that the prescription no longer gives. Prompt intervention on your behalf is integral to getting your teen help with a drug habit.

For more information about possible drug treatment for your high school athlete, contact the professionals at The Lakes Treatment Center.