Being a parent of a teenager can be a battle. You might fight over his room’s cleanliness, his grades, or his curfew. As your child gets older, he’ll start to become exposed to more dangerous things, like drugs and alcohol. One in five teens has abused prescription medications, and you might be worried that your teenager is using drugs. If you’re concerned about your teen, here are three things you should do.
Look For Warning Signs
Before you confront your child about your suspicions, you might want to make sure they’re founded. Accusing your teenager of doing drugs when he or she isn’t wouldn’t be great for your relationship, so look for warning signs. Any behavioral or physical changes could be a sign of drug use. If your teenager is suddenly more tired or more energetic than usual, he or she could be under the influence of a substance (marijuana will make one lethargic while an “upper” like cocaine will increase energy).
You might notice a change in your child’s sleep patterns or choices of activities. If he becomes disinterested in activities he used to love, that could be an indication of drug use. Your teenager might also start to experience mental health issues, such as depression. In general, if you notice a significant change in your teen’s choices and emotions, you might want to consider the possibility of drug use.
Look Into Your Teen’s Friends
Young adults are often influenced by peer pressure, and teenagers are more likely to engage in risky behaviors if they’re encouraged by their friends. Falling in with the wrong crowd can lead your teenager down a dangerous path. If your child has started spending time with a new group of friends, you might want to look into them.
You can use a number gps to look up who your teen is texting with. Learning who he’s talking to will help you assess what’s going on. You can then contact the parents of your teen’s friends and discuss the situation with them. Having the backup of other parents will be a huge support for you and will help you learn more about what exactly is going on with your teenager.
Get Your Teen Professional Help
After you’ve learned everything you need to know, you might find that your child is using drugs. This can be extremely scary for any parent to experience and you might be feeling overwhelmed and upset. Thankfully, there are professionals who can help. You can start by calling the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s helpline. With this confidential helpline, you can receive referrals and the next steps for your teenager.
There are also amazing facilities where your teenager can get more intensive help. One incredible drug rehab in Ontario offers personal treatment that can make all the difference. The rehab’s one-on-one sessions will help your teen overcome his addiction and commit to lifelong sobriety. Having the ability to focus entirely on recovery will help your teen overcome his addiction and gain confidence. Don’t try to tackle your teenager’s recovery without professional help. The right people can make a huge difference for you and your family.
If you’re worried that your teenager might be using drugs, don’t panic. Learn everything you can and when you’re ready, talk to your teen about his drug use and what he can do to recover. Make his recovery your top priority and he will eventually realize that you did everything you could to help him. Be open and honest with your child and don’t be angry. Let him know that you love him and want what’s best for him. With the right help, your teenager will be sober for life.
