While quite a number of parents who brought their children to rehabilitation centers would say that they did not notice signs of drug abuse early on, there are some parents who share some common observations on the changes manifested by their kids who abused drugs. On the other hand, there are some people who may be experiencing these changes due to reasons other than the use of drugs. Thus, these signs must not be taken as the ultimate indicators of drug abuse, but rather as a guiding checklist so parents can conduct further investigation on their children’s habits.
Cocaine Abuse: Teens who abuse cocaine may become suddenly irritable and short tempered. They can also suffer from paranoia, panic attacks, sleeplessness, hallucinations and depression. Also check for loss of appetite and dilated pupils.
Marijuana Abuse: Having bloodshot eyes is probably the most noticeable sign of marijuana abuse. Your teen may also manifest excessive eating, excessive laughter, reduced short-term memory, mood changes and lethargy.
Depressants Abuse: Since depressants temporarily diminish the function of a specific part of the mind or the body, most common symptoms for the abuse of depressants would be slower motor coordination, lethargy, disorientation and slurred speech.
Check also for physical items that may substantiate your suspicion. Look for capsules, tablets and pills that you normally don’t use at home. Even if the tablets are common over-the-counter drugs, be suspicious if your child is carrying around quite a number of it. The presence of cigarette rolling papers or small pipes, the smell of burnt rope, and the sudden use of room fragrances (that can mask certain odors they may want to hide) may also be taken as warning signs.
Tags: signs of drug abuse, symptoms of drug abuse, teen drug abuse, youth drug abuse
