How Do You Know If Your Child Is Using Drugs?
As parents, we need to learn to determine whether changes in our children’s behavior are in line with their development or in response to something else, like drug use, for example. Learn to recognize this behavior.
Drug use remains one of the main concerns of parents of the the whole world and, unfortunately, the figures processed each year continue to be alarming. Therefore, it is normal for you to wonder how to know if your child is using drugs?
Parents of young people with some type of addiction say it is not easy to recognize the problem early , because the signs are not clear. Today we are presenting to you some of the possible signs that may indicate that your child is using drugs.
Unbridled adolescence and drugs
Adolescence is a time when young people feel rebellious and daring. At the organic, physiological, psychological and social level, they go through all kinds of changes that can be difficult to manage . Due to this and other factors, they may be more vulnerable to vices.
To find out if your child is using drugs, he it will be essential that you pay attention to certain signs and, if possible, do not rush. There are a few questions to consider before drawing any conclusions.
- Adolescence is a time of rebellion during which the young person may behave in unusual ways and not use any type of drug.
- Young people between the ages of 11 and 21 age often have a distorted perception of risk . This explains why it is possible that they tend to assume behaviors that, later, they will end up regretting.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse in the United States identifies 5 factors that invite teens to enter the world of drugs:
- Join a group , try to stay “on the same wavelength” as the friends .
- Feel good . Drugs produce feelings of pleasure in the brain.
- To feel better . Adolescence is linked to periods of depression and stress, which are relieved by medication.
- Better compete . Certain stimulants can give them the impression of doing better socially, in sports and even academic activities.
- Experiment . Adolescents are looking for new sensations, especially if they involve certain risks.
And if, in addition, there is not a healthy family channel of communication to openly talk about all kinds of issues, it may be more difficult to act in time and save the young person from this terrible scourge.
Drugs: an underestimated enemy
Lots of teens and parents consider drug use to be a passing practice of little importance. However, minimizing the risks may backfire on you in the future . No parent should “normalize” the fact that a young person uses drugs, even occasionally.
On the other hand, considering that a child is free from experiences leading to drug use is also an attitude that can be harmful in the future.
It is essential to properly inform young people and to reflect with them on the consequences of experimental drug use.
For their part, the parents should also try to stay knowledgeable and open to dialogue . They should also avoid “forbidding” their children from drugs “just because”. The more numerous and better prepared the two parties are, the less risk there will be.
Now, if you suspect that your child is using drugs, the first thing to do is to determine whether or not the irreverent attitudes of the young person are due to hormonal changes typical of their age.
It is essential to look a little beyond the difficult stage he is in and to check if the strange behavior results from drug use, before drawing any conclusions.
Behaviors to consider when detecting drug use
The most common thing when a young person uses drugs is trying to hide it. This way their behavior can look a little different. He is therefore essential to pay attention to their behavior and, in particular, to the changes that may occur there.
However, if you don’t have proof, you better avoid confrontation . Instead, try to reach out in a friendly manner to find out what’s going on. You can foster a violent situation if you complain and start blaming him.