Warning Signs that Your Child May be Using Drugs
March 17th, 2014
There are many different reasons why a child may be acting out, making it difficult for a parent to decide if their child is acting out because of drug and alcohol use or not. Though nothing is certain, there are signs a worried parent can look for if they fear their child is using drugs.
When a child begins using drugs, their life will change in four dominant areas; behavior, personal appearance/habits, home related issues and health problems. Identifying your child’s behavior in one of these areas is a huge step to knowing if they are drinking or abusing drugs. The most important thing to watch out for is if any of these new behavioral patterns suddenly occur:
Behavioral Issues:
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Sudden change in relationships with friends or family members
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Loss of motivation
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Emotional instability
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Laughing randomly or at nothing
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Sudden lack of coordination
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Unusually tired all the time
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Silent, non talkative when they used to communicate easily
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Easily agitated
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Manipulative
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Makes endless excuses
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Slurred speech or increased speech
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Inability to focus
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Long period of high energy followed by a “crash;” long periods of catch-up sleep
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Personal Appearance/Habits:
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Burns on lips or fingers
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Small, red track marks on arms, legs, hands, and/or feet
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Drastic decrease in personal hygiene
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Recklessly spending money without proof of newly bought material possessions
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Breaking house rules when previously not an issue
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Clenching teeth for a prolonged period of time
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Rapid eye movement
Home Related Issues:
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Money missing from either your purse or wallet
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Prescription drugs missing from secure location
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Missing or watered down alcohol
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Valuable items disappearing
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Unusual containers or wrappers discarded around their room
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Excessive use of incense, perfume, or cologne to mask the smell of smoke or alcohol
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Limitations to accessing your child’s bedroom
Health Problems:
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Open sores or red spots on mouth
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Vomiting
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Excessive thirst or “cotton mouth”
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Sudden weight loss
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Abundant sores on the skin
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Profuse sweating
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Chronic headaches
When trying to decipher if your child is taking drugs/drinking alcohol or if they are just going through normal teenage changes, always remember, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
-Madison O’Connell, Editorial Intern
