Warning! These Signs Could Mean Teenage Drug Use
Our teenagers are bombarded with offers from other teens to use and/or to sell drugs; it is part of the everyday scene at most junior high and high schools. Even parochial schools are not immune. Significant behavioral changes in your teen often signify drug usage. The savvy parent is tuned into these changes and is better able to intercept drug abuse/addictions. Generally, one of the first signs of possible drug use is deteriorations of the teen’s relationship with family members: Decreased affection display, poor communication, and reduced participation in family activities often occur. Frequently, overreactions by the teen to requests or mild criticisms by parents or authority figures are observed. The teen will often report “everyone is against me.” Moreover, there is often an insensitivity toward the feelings of other family members.
Mood swings are also quite common in these kids. They may display irritability or angry outbursts one minute, yet be laughing on the phone with a friend the next minute. The predominant mood, however, is sullen and detached, if not hostile.
Changes may be noted in the teen’s physical functioning,
as well. Insomnia and other unusual sleeping patterns are commonly observed.
Changes in eating habits are also often noted, with some having an
unexplained weight loss (speed use, for example, can do this), while others
eat more and gain weight (with teen pot smoking, late night “munchies” may
occur).
Red and watery, bloodshot eyes and/or runny noses are often a part of the
observed physical changes. Slurred or garble speech, forgetfulness, or
illogical sentences are likewise often a part of the picture in these kids.
In extreme cases, you may note blackouts where the youth remembers little of
what s/he did or said.
Changes in scholastic performance are also often observed
in drug using teens. Carelessness in completing and/or turning in
assignments and taking tests on time occurs. Accordingly, grades may begin
to plummet, while skipping classes and half days at school increase in
frequency.
These teens will also often lie regarding their whereabouts to their
parents. Long phone conversations with unknown teen friends frequently
occur. Moreover, they may start hanging out with a new crowd altogether.
Importantly, the teen’s new school friends don’t seem to fit into the
family’s expectations or preferences.
Furthermore, the teen may dress in extreme styles, often donning excessive black garb and drug culture T-shirts, with extra baggy, wide-legged pants. Good grooming often goes out the window, so to speak: Body piercing and weird hairdos (or just dirty hair) are a part of the drug culture look. Experimentation with gang, satanic or witchcraft emblems of paraphernalia is also quite common among these teens.
Should you see any of the above constellations of behaviors or trends in your teen, you should keep track of such changes and consult a family psychologist and family physician for intervention/treatment(s). You can have your teen tested for drugs, and definitely should do so, when in doubt. “It is always better to be safe than sorry,” as the old adage goes. We all hear of the startling statistics of teens who die of tainted drug mixtures and/or overdoses, administered by “friends” at parties. If the teen does not OD on drugs, s/he just may end up with something like serious, permanent brain damage, or paralysis from the drug induced car wreck, instead. Is it really worth the gamble?