Parents often miss warning signs of adolescent drug abuse, which can include physical and emotional symptoms, changes in social and school life, and problems with family relationships. It’s important to talk to children early and often about drug use, supervise them, and be vigilant for signs of drug abuse. If symptoms emerge, seek a physical examination and mental health professional if necessary. Friends who abuse drugs can also put pressure on children to use.
Drug abuse among adolescents is often marked with warning signs, but many parents miss these indicators because they are often not too different from what is often seen as normal teenage behavior. Some of the physical signs may indicate physical illness rather than drug abuse. If you notice any of the following possible drug abuse symptoms, your first stop may be to insist that a doctor physically examine your child.
First, it’s important to note that adolescent drug abuse doesn’t simply apply to “street drugs”. Many teenagers also abuse prescription drugs, such as Ritalin® or over-the-counter (OTC) drugs. Additionally, some teens may experiment with life-threatening inhalants on the first try. If another family member takes the prescriptions and the pills run out, it’s important to keep tabs on and perhaps keep these prescriptions under lock and key. Additionally, researching over-the-counter medications and household chemicals that may be subject to abuse can provide valuable information.
Drug abuse can have a variety of symptoms in adolescents. These include physical and emotional symptoms and changes in social life, school life and problems with family relationships. Some or all of these might apply to adolescent drug abuse, but on the other hand they may simply indicate problems with teenage life and body change or physical or mental illness. If you should see these symptoms emerging, it’s best to do what you can to identify the cause, as drug abuse in adolescents can quickly lead to long-term addiction, permanent physical harm, or accidental death.
Physical symptoms of drug abuse can include excessive tiredness, a persistent cough, red or watery eyes, and frequent illness. You may be able to tell if your teen has used drugs or alcohol by smelling their breath, noticing hangover symptoms, or if the teen is acting clearly disoriented or stoned. When the cause is not apparent, the above symptoms should be grounds for a physical examination of the adolescent to ensure no other illnesses are present and to rule out drug abuse in the adolescent.
Drug use can also cause mood swings. These could mean that a teenager becomes more withdrawn or withdrawn, or seems depressed. Sudden changes in mood are also suspect. Lack of interest in life or low self-esteem can also be caused by drugs. When these mood swings occur, many attribute them to normal adolescent behavior, but a child who has continual rapid mood swings or who has suddenly become withdrawn and withdrawn may be best assisted by an examination by a mental health professional. .
While it is common for adolescents to have more conflict with the family as they assert their independence, constant fighting or complete withdrawal from the family can suggest adolescent drug abuse. Constantly breaking rules, such as ignoring curfews, could also be caused by drug use. Your teen’s school may be reporting a drop in grades, a school cut, or misbehavior. When this behavior is sudden in a teenager who generally got along in school or at home, you should consider drugs as a possible cause.
You also need to evaluate what kind of friends your child has. Friends who appear to display poor judgment, or who you know abuse drugs, are more likely to put social pressure on your child to use drugs or alcohol. Getting to know your children’s friends and what they are like often can be a great way to prevent drug abuse by teenagers. Children exhibiting these symptoms are a risk factor for your teenager.
Most studies suggest that parents don’t talk to their children early enough, or long enough, about drug use. This must be an ongoing discussion in your home. Teens also benefit from supervision, and attending unaccompanied parties or “going out” without providing parents with an itinerary often leaves the teen more open to drug use. Insisting a teenager to be more vigilant won’t win a parent any popularity contests, but this vigilance can prove to be a lifesaver. If your child can’t thank you now, he may thank you very well later.
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