There are many worst nightmares parents have when it comes to their children, and their teen turning into a drug addict is certainly one. You expect it to happen in the movies, or perhaps in the more deprived areas of town. But not your home, oh no.
However, the truth is, it can happen to any parent, with teens falling into the wrong crowd at school, or simply looking to play up. But as we know, and they perhaps don’t, it can be a slippery slope into addiction, and drugs can have a lasting impact not just on their teenage years, but their entire life, whether it be getting a criminal record, encountering health problems or suffering with an addiction that will require professional help.
Nobody wants to send their child to rehabilitation, but more and more parents are beginning to have to do it, with drug abuse among teens and college students rife at present. But what are the warning signs that your teen may be taking drugs?
A change in habits
You’ll almost certainly see a change in habits from your child. One of the more noticeable changes is that they’ll likely stop spending time with old friends and have fallen in with a different crowd. These can often be toxic friendships and in many cases, peer pressure will lead to the involvement of drugs.
You may also see changes in their diet. For example, they may have cravings for more food or completely lose their appetite, while school performance will also be noticeably different, with a drop in grades and more bad behavior reported by teachers.
A change in appearance
You see your child every day so it’ll be noticeable if physical changes start to develop. Drugs will change the physical presence of someone no matter how old they are. Bloodshot eyes, track marks on arms, wounds and bruises, as well as a poorer sense of personal hygiene are tell-tale signs of drug usage, while you also may notice an increase in them wearing long sleeve shirts, even in the summer months to hide any scars.
They’ll be more secretive
Where once your child would be happy to admit they’re heading out to see Sophie or Connor, they may appear more secretive and withdrawn if they have developed a drug habit, avoiding letting you know where they are going as well as just disappearing for long periods of time.
You’ll also find they’d be more inclined to lock their bedroom door and will typically just avoid being around you in order to avoid any awkward questioning.
