Seeing the signs of drug use in teens can be extremely difficult as many teenagers who aren’t on drugs behave secretly and moodily. In addition to that, many parents are not ready to admit the possibility that their son or daughter could possibly be among those group of teens who smoke pot, drink or worse. It should also be noted that it isn’t always easy being a teenager as things like peer pressure and bullying can be great reasons for some teens to start masking their problems with alcohol or substance abuse. There are signs to watch out for, and some of them can be helpful in identifying a potential pattern of substance use in your teenage son or daughter. Some include inappropriate forms of dress, like long sleeve shirts and sweaters in the summer, as these can be used to hide needle marks for instance. Stealing is an obvious sign, but may not be related as many teenagers do shoplift, but in relation to drug use it can be explained as a means to get money for buying booze, cigarettes and drugs. A sudden change in friends is another thing to watch out for, as a new group of friends may be the ones responsible for introducing a teen to substances. A new group of friends can be a necessary change for a teen experimenting with drugs as their old friends may not be into the drug and alcohol scene. The last, and probably most important sign, is the disappearance of prescription medicine from the medicine cabinet or missing pills from the bottle. Particularly prescription painkillers, which many teens these days to get high.
So what, as a parent, should you do if you find out your teenager is using (Or potentially addicted to) drugs? Don’t freak out! If you lose control of the situation from the start, you may already be behind in the game. The first thing you may want to consider is sitting down with your teenager and listening to what they have to say even if it may be hard to hear or if it doesn’t make sense to you. Teenagers can be difficult to understand at the best of times, but if they have a problem with drugs and alcohol then there is obviously something wrong that needs your immediate attention and support. There are plenty of options to consider in the approach to helping your son or daughter get the assistance they need to free themselves from the world of drugs. It doesn’t matter where you live, there are groups, doctors, therapists, rehab centers and of course family support wherever you may be. The most important thing is not to take on the burden of helping your kid on your own. There are professionals for a reason. A child psychiatrist or addiction experts can help both your kid and you as they will have plenty of valuable insight and treatment advice to offer you as a parent as well as the child in question.
Whether you decide that a mental health professional is the way to go, a youth drug treatment center or possibly an intervention to start things off, you’re already on the right track to helping your child succeed in defeating their substance abuse problem.
