It is undoubtedly any parent’s worst nightmare finding out that his/her child is using an illegal substance, and not knowing what the child is using. Is Your Teenager Using Drugs or Alcohol? And how do you find out?
Before a parent can take any form of action, he/she has to establish first what the teenager is using. Therefore, the only solution a parent has is to start immediate investigation of the child by noticing certain changes in behavioural patterns as well as attitude and friends.
Here are some guidelines to assist you:
- Find out if your child has lost his/her old friends, and made any new friends. If so, find out whom they are how old they are and if they might possibly be drug users.
- Has your child been displaying extreme mood swings, signs of depression and/or any signs of rage?
- Has your child been performing at school as always by upholding good grades and a shining attendance record, or have you noticed a strong decline in grades as well as constant absenteeism at school and an overall bad attitude towards routine and authority?
- Does your child still have a healthy appetite as always, or has he/she started displaying signs of digestive complications? Has he/she been of ill health lately and possibly been diagnosed with ulcers or gastritis as they are signs of possible substance abuse?
- Have you found any signs of evidence in your house or child’s room such as missing alcoholic beverages, missing medicine in the meds cabinet, peculiar empty containers or devices etc.? Has your child started smoking tobacco in front of you all of a sudden?
- When your child is exposed to anti- drug and/or alcohol programs, literature or advertisements, does he/she display signs of negativity against it? Has your child been caught doing unlawful activities? Have you noticed that your child has been showing signs of dishonestly such as lying and/or stealing?
- Has your child’s overall appearance changed at all? Have you noticed that your child has been chewing gum or mints continuously? And has he/she been showing a lack of interest in personal hygiene?
Thanks To Addictions Advice For The Post.
There are many people who are unaware of the signs that accompany addiction to drugs. This is particularly worrying since they won’t be able to identify the occurrence in their own children too.
The thing is that we are not supposed to just bury our heads in the sand and hope it never happens to our family. Many parents refuse to talk to their children about drugs, since they say they don’t want to expose their children to the topic, or pique their curiosity. This is perhaps not the best route to take.
Your child should learn about the dangerousness of drugs. They should know why it is dangerous to take drugs, the effects of addiction and what it will do to their bodies. They should also know why they should say no to taking drugs, and how to resist the temptation or pressure from their peers.
These and other things that you need to discuss with them will arm them against the dangers of drugs. It is not enough to simply say I believe in my upbringing of my child and that they will do the right thing. You have to talk to them about the dangers of drugs as part of that good upbringing.
Having the information to say no to drugs and being able to do so will provide your child with the ability to say no, and to understand the importance of being able to say no. It is necessary to arm them with the correct amount of information so that they are able to resist the many temptations that will be coming their way. In this way they will have a chance at life without having to deal with the devastation that addiction brings to the lives of millions of other young people.
These are of course only some of the many different signs that your child could be on drugs. It is up to you to stay on top of your child’s life and always be aware of what he or she is up to, who their friends are and how their health and life is doing.
