Peep into a house party packed with teenagers, what you will see is an entirely different version of High School Musical. Teenage boys and girls taking recreational drugs and alcohol is a common view these days. It is probably due to the glamorization of such addictions in our movies.
The one who uses drugs is certainly a drug addict. It is as simple a fact as that. If you use drugs, you have a dependence on it. Drug addiction alone costs the American taxpayers over $500 billion every year.
Teenagers and Drugs
As a parent, you always worry for your kids. You make every effort to raise your kid as a responsible, sensible, and ideal member of the society. Dealing with teenagers is not easy since they tend to get behavioral problems at times. As a matter of fact, you also were a worry for your parents in your teen years. But, you never did drugs, did you?
However, if your teen’s behavior seems unusual these days, or if you think your dear is doing drugs, you shouldn’t be hard on him/her. (Since beating kids isn’t a good parenting practice.) What you can do instead is to identify whether it is true. Once you have found that the kid is using drugs, you have to rescue enable your teenager to drain out this habit.
Here are some of the symptoms that indicate that your teenager may be using drugs –
Ask it.
Just observe the changing expressions on their faces. This will give you enough knowledge about their habit.
If their expressions change dramatically, or if they hesitate answering your question, you know they are hiding something already. Or if they accept it in front of you, all you need to do is take your loved one to a rehab.
If you find used injections, smoking devices (bong), containers, bottles, wrappers and paper pouches lying in your teenager’s room, you have rock-solid evidence that he/she is using some kind of stimulating drug.
The sign is, if your dear avoids eye contact with you most of the times, there is something to dig out.
Observe habitual changes.
Changes often surface when things go out of hands. A single change in the behavior of your teen is the biggest notification you have to look for.
For example, if your kid has recently become friends with a strange-looking guy or girl, this is a major warning sign that your kid might be heading in the wrong direction.
For another instance, if your teenager has started being secretive or become an introvert, you need to uncover the source of such behavioral change.
However, the fact that teen years are accompanied with physical and emotional changes cannot be denied. Your teen is going through a lot of physical developments he/she has no idea about.
Sometimes, their behavior changes because of these bodily transformations. So, you need to be careful while questioning certain behaviors of your kid. Some weird enactments might not be a sign of drug addiction.
Notice changes in physical appearances.
Red eyes, wounds, marks, red cheeks, avoiding hygiene, shaking, nose bleeding, incessant coughing, altered sleeping pattern, upset stinky clothes, etc. are some of the possible signs highlighting that an individual might be on drugs.
Also look for signs of injection on the wrist of your teen. If your son or daughter smells bad or leaves bathroom full of unusual stink, there might be a connection with drug addiction.
Take a look at how your teen walks; his/her walk can also indicate if anything is wrong. However, you will need to dive deeper to realize the actual reasons behind their worsened physical condition.
He or she has no friends or just one weird friend.
I have given it a mention in one of the above points. But, this needed a separate explanation.
Kids don’t do drugs by themselves until they are offered once by someone. And this someone could be that one weird friend that is not a classmate, neither a playground buddy.
So, it is really important to notice who your teenage son or daughter is cozying up with. Try to speak to that special friend by yourself. Having a conversation is the best way to discover the actuality.
If all the friends of your teen have disappeared, this too could be a sign to worry about. Check with those ex-friends to find out the true reason.
Deteriorating health
Frequent use of recreational drug can have severe consequences on an individual’s overall health. Its side effects include a number of cardiovascular problems, sexual dysfunctions, weak immune system, disturbed digestive system, increased heart rate, blood pressure irregularities, respiratory problems, frequent mood swings, disturbed emotions, among others. Drug addiction affects both physical as well as mental health.
So, if such signs are noticeable on your teen, there could be recreational drugs involved in this.
Once you are sure that your teen is using drugs, it is time for a rescue operation to help him/her overcome this situation. Drug addiction is no less than a disease. It will consume all the joys of your kid’s teen hood. Take your child for consultation and drug screening so that a rehabilitation program can be set up.
Most importantly, do remember that your teen needs your help in this situation, not your scolding or punishment!
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Very informative and good to know #TweensTeensBeyond
This really is one of every parent’s worst nightmares …
Back again from #fortheloveofBLOG
I have to say this is something I am SO worried about for the year to come…I’m just hoping I would notice the changes! Thanks for linking up this important post to #coolmumclub x
A really useful post Karen. It’s all of our worst nightmares and this is a very concise guide on things to be aware of. Thank you and thanks for sharing with #tweensteensbeyond
A really informative post, thanks. My kids are too little right now but I’ll remember this for the future. #thesatsesh
Karen this is an informative post – I would be interested to know who is the guest writer? Talking to your teens from an early age about drugs and their dangers is important as is of course being aware of any obvious changes in behaviour. As parents we can only continue to reiterate the dangers but the physical evidence of seeing someone with a drug issue firsthand is also a stark reminder to our teens and sadly the stories are all too commonplace nowadays. With access to drugs on the increase we can never afford to be complacent. #TweensTeensBeyond
I will get back to you with the name of the guest writer(as I can’t remember off the top of my head!)
It was written by Smith, Willis x
Very useful Karen and very relevant to parents of all teens. Loads of useful info in here, thanks so much for sharing with us at #TweensTeensBeyond
One thing I’ve noticed here (Australia) it’s often the really popular kids doing the rec drugs – so they have lots of friends. The people with no or 1 friend seem to not use because they aren’t at the parties with the kids that are using. #GlobalBlogging
This is really informative and helpful for parents dealing with this issue. X #pointshoot #triumphanttales
Oh my goodness, this would be a parents worst nightmare, wouldnt it? No doubt this is something I’ll worry about when my daughter is older. Obviously she will be taught all about the dangers of drugs so I’d hope she’d stay well clear. #TriumphantTales
Yes this is a problem that is all too common today. It is surprising how many young people are using drugs recreationally. Thank you for sharing 🌈 #PointShoot 📸
I think this will always be a worry for every parent. I just hope my little boy will be as sensible as I was when he grows up. I never had any interest in drugs and never have done, they scare me too much. Very informative article. Thanks for sharing with #TriumphantTales
My mum’s major concern was drugs when I went to university. She made me promise I would not try drugs and I never did as I wanted to keep my promise to her. I have had them offered over the years including very recently. I have introduced my children to the dangers of drugs and the Frank website is a great resource. I hope I have given them the right values and strength of will to stay away from drugs for life. #TriumphantTales
A really useful post, much to think about. Thanks. #brillblogposts
Good to be aware of these things and that, yes, it can happen to anybody — child or parent #ablogginggoodtime
This is just so frightening. Any parents nightmare! Great info here! Thanks for sharing! #globalblogging
Interesting read. As a parent of two teens and two younger girls too, I am acutely aware of pressures they may face. No parent wants to believe their child would even dare to try drugs, but it does happen. However, we’ve always been honest with our girls and they know the score on these things. Life is about choices, if someone makes an informed choice then they have to live with that choice.
Can I just say I dislike this term – “He or she has no friends or just one weird friend.”. Some kids don’t makes friends easily – it doesn’t mean they’re drug users. My daughter has a friend other call weird. How horrible is that? We embrace weird. Being different shouldn’t be frowned upon or ridiculed, we are all individuals. My daughters friends just doesn’t conform to what other people call normal. She’s cool.
#ThatFridayLinky
Totally agree with you on this David, being different makes someone special, not weird, thanks for sharing your thoughts, take care x
This is an important post for all of us parents to keep on the back burner. Thank you for your efforts. I will bookmark and save for, truthfully, hopefully, never! But at least I will be in the know! #pointshoot xoxo
Oh I am so glad this is many years away for me. The thought of my children taking drugs scares the hell out of me. Thanks for joining us at #familyfun
This is a really useful post for parents with teens! I’m really glad to have read it:) #GlobalBlogging
My boys haven’t reached their teenage years yet, but I confess that it terrifies me a little for reasons like this! Thank you for sharing this with #Blogstravaganza
Excellent informative post Thank you for linking to #Thatfridaylinky please come back next week
Really informative post, thanks for sharing. Drugs are one of many reasons I dread the teens! Thanks for linking up #twinklyuesday
Excellent post on things for parents to watch for as their kids get older! #DreamTeam
This is such a scary thought for years to come, and thanks for the tips. Thanks for linking up at #fortheloveofBLOG. Claire x
It is scary, but sadly also part of daily life for teenagers growing up now. Put together like this it makes sense and I’m sure will help parents become more aware and know how to broach this. Thanks for sharing with #PoCoLo