Teenager on Drugs? Signs You Can't Afford to Ignore

If your child has recently changed friends, lost interest in activities they used to enjoy and has become secretive, it is time to pay attention.
With adolescents, it is difficult to determine between normal teen moodiness and mood swings caused by drug and alcohol abuse.
No one likes to believe that his or her child is using or abusing drugs but drug abuse and denial are dangerous and prevalent.
It is difficult to believe that your child would succumb to peer pressure after all those talks you made a point of having and the Dare Education they attended, but it happens.

It is naive to think "they are just experimenting, they will figure it out" or that "it is just a stage they are going through".
Ignoring the signs can be fatal.
  With the onslaught of new prescription drugs on the market one of the unintended consequences is a plethora of available narcotics often found in our own medicine chest. It is not uncommon for teens to have access to medications from either their unknowing parents or the parents of a friend.
Hoping to get high, some kids take medications they know nothing about and when they mix it with alcohol it can be a deadly combination.

For example OxyContin is a synthetic narcotic pain reliever similar to morphine and it is highly addictive.
It is relatively inexpensive and can be purchased on the Internet.

Teen addiction to this drug has become an epidemic in the USA.

Some of the other drugs that kids are using today can be bought over the counter with no age limits and no identification necessary.

Most cough syrups and cough medications have an ingredient in them called Dextromethorphan otherwise known as DXM.

In suggested doses this drug poses no danger but taken in large doses it can be toxic.
Because of other ingredients such as acetaminophen, the chemical in Tylenol, liver damage can occur.

When mixed with other drugs or alcohol it can be deadly.

If your child is experiencing any combination of the following behaviors it is better to play it safe than sorry.
o Loss of interest in activates they used to enjoy o Disregard for personal grooming o Changed of friends o Missing classes or cutting school o Decline in grades o Secretive, speaks in code with friends, pushes you away when you ask questions o Acts guilty or defensive, makes excuses, blames o Lying and or other dishonest behavior o Dramatic personality and or mood changes o Seems extra sleepy and sluggish or overly alert and high strung or nervous o Seems to be avoiding family situations o Money or other valuable items are missing o You have found drug paraphernalia, lighters, rolling papers, eye drops in his / her clothes and room o Your child often smells of mouthwash or has started using incense in his or her room o You are missing prescriptions drugs or cough syrup from your medicine chest o  Your child displays self-destructive behavior or attitudes o Attraction to negative and dark images Ask your child for the truth.
Be willing to listen without judgment and be ready to help by offering treatment, therapy or 12 Step support group information. If your child is unwilling to tell you anything I suggest searching their Internet searches, social media website interactions and their bedrooms for evidence to confront them with.

As a responsible parent it is essential to remember that it is more important to address your child's health and medical needs rather than keeping their good opinion of you.

It is easy to get sucked into a person's addiction especially when you love them.
There is help to found, don't wait.