Debbie One of the most challenging jobs on the planet is being a parent. As your child starts to enter their teen years, they will be confronted with a number of new challenges. Teenagers have a tendency to rebel against their parents, which can be hazardous.
A recent study found that over 2 million teens reported using drugs and alcohol in the past year. Having a child that is addicted to drugs can be one of the most heart-wrenching experiences you can have. The key to getting your child off of drugs is noticing the signs of addiction and taking action. Here are some signs you might notice if your child is currently using drugs and information about how to help them.
Extreme Changes in Behavior
As the parent of a teenager, you are probably no stranger to sudden mood swings. When a teenager hits puberty, their hormones can make them hard to be around. However, there is a drastic difference between typical teenage moodiness and drug-induced changes in behavior. Knowing the difference between these two can help you spot your child’s drug problem early on.
If you notice that your child is going from extremely upbeat and talkative to moody and angry, then you might need to confront them about drug use. Ignoring this bad behavior can lead to your child’s addiction getting even worse. Getting your child the help they need is easy with Behavioral Health Centers. These substance abuse professionals can help your child learn to live without drugs and alcohol.
Cutting Ties With Old Friends
Most parents are very familiar with who their children hang around with. The average kid will have the same group of friends throughout their school years. If you start to notice some unfamiliar faces in your child’s friend group, you need to do some research. When a teen suddenly cuts ties with friends they’ve had for years in lieu of a new group of people, drugs could be to blame.
If the new crowd your child is hanging around with smokes and drinks, it is probably safe to assume that your child is doing the same. While it might be uncomfortable to confront your child about these sudden changes, it is important. Staying involved in your child’s life is imperative when trying to keep them from sliding further into addiction.
They’ve Started To Abandon Social Activities
Keeping children involved in extracurricular activities is important as they get older. A child that is involved in sports or theater is far less likely to succumb to the temptation of drugs and alcohol. If your typically active teenager is starting to flake out on certain social activities and extracurricular activities, this could be a sign of drug use.
When a person is in the throes of drug addiction, they will forget about other obligations. Ignoring this red flag can put your child in a lot of danger. Staging an intervention is the first step in helping your child to overcome their addiction.
Finding a Treatment Facility
Providing your child with the help they need to overcome addiction is important. Working with addiction specialists is crucial when trying to get your child sober. Before you choose a treatment facility for your teenager, you need to do your homework. Ideally, you want to choose a facility that has lots of experience treating the type of addiction your teenager has.
The road to recovery starts with finding a good addiction treatment center. With this type of help, your teenager can get sober and take back their life.
