Substance Abuse And Your Teen. 3 Signs Parents Shouldn’t Ignore
For parents, the idea of their teen engaging in substance abuse is their worst nightmare. It not only has a direct impact on their lives in the here and now, but substance abuse has the potential to ruin their lives before they’ve even really begun.
The longer an addiction goes undetected, the harder it will be to break that habit and as the effects of addictions in teenagers are far-reaching, it means that their social lives, financial stability, their education and their futures are all at risk. Common addictions range from illegal drugs and alcohol to prescription drugs, sex and even gaming and social media addictions. Here we’ll explore the impact of substance abuse and your teen with 3 signs parents shouldn’t ignore.
Secretive behaviour
Most teens have secrets, as they no longer want to share every aspect of their lives with their parents, which is perfectly normal. But if their secretive behaviour is destructive or suspicious, then it shouldn’t be brushed away and put down to hormones. Perhaps your extroverted teen is no longer the loud and bubbly person they once were, or maybe your shy and reserved teenager is withdrawing even further away from social situations. Other secretive behaviours that you shouldn’t ignore include:
- Disappearing for long periods of time
- Spending lots of time out at night
- Stealing
- Locking their doors
- No longer keeping appointments/classes/promises
Physical changes
When substance abuse begins to take hold, you may start to notice some physical changes that shouldn’t be ignored. These kinds of changes can be difficult to spot, as they can vary from substance to substance, however general changes you can look out for include:
- Strange marks on their arms
- Nosebleeds
- Unexplained wounds, bruises or cuts
- Shaking
- Strange smells and odours
- Lip licking
- Sudden twitches or jumpy behaviour
One of the most common physical changes associated with substance abuse is a dishevelled appearance. Whether your teen is image-conscious or not, if they’re no longer partaking in personal hygiene habits, such as washing, brushing their teeth and combing their hair, you may want to step in.
Red flags
Some changes are more obvious than others, and while you may not find empty bottles under their bed or drugs in their bag, you may spot other signs that something isn’t quite right. Have you noticed lighters and matches around? Missing items from home, such as jewellery, bottles of alcohol or even prescription drugs from your medicine cabinet? Are their personal items such as bags, clothes, shoes or even their car damaged, and they can’t explain why? Do they have no money yet can’t explain where all their allowance or paycheck has gone?
Your next steps
If you’re suspicious of your teen’s behaviour, then it’s important to keep the lines of communication open. Try not to be accusatory, talk to them about your concerns – if needed, find them the help they need as soon as possible. Burying your head in the sand will only make breaking these habits much harder for them further down the line.
