How To Prevent Your Teen Child From Drug Addiction?

Teenage is an age of experimentation for the younger population, regardless of their parenting and other influences. Teenagers get used to drugs and alcohol often in social gatherings just to relax and reduce their inhibitions. Most of them try drugs initially due to peer pressure but eventually fall for addictions due to chase for euphoria feelings or to get relief from their problems. When a child develops substance use at a very young age, he/she develops chemical dependency that can last throughout their adulthood, if not identified by their parents at the right time.

Substance use like alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, marijuana, cannabis, alcohol can alter the way how the brain works. These drugs can change consciousness, mood, and thoughts, awareness, feelings, or behavior. When the brain is influenced by external feel-good chemicals, it stops producing naturally occurring chemicals in our bodies and can result in severe psychological imbalance.

As a parent, you may be worried about your child becoming dependent on such illegal drugs. However, parents can help protect kids against drug use by giving them facts about the risky situation they are likely to face when they want to experiment with such harmful substances.

How To Identify The Signs Of Addiction?

The most obvious sign of drug addiction is the urge to have a particular drug or a substance both physically or psychologically. However, there are many other signs that can be identified such as mood changes, depression or eating disorders. Here are the signs that a parent can identify if his/her child is in substance influence

Signs of change in Mood & Personality

• Lack of Motivation
• Withdrawn or Depressed
• Deceitful or secretive
• Lack of focus & attention
• Non-Communicative and being silent
• Non-Communicative and being silent
• Hyperactive or unusual exhibition of happiness

Signs of Change in Behavior

• Absenteeism in school
• Poor balance, stumbling
• Loss of Control
• Alienating
• Avoids eye Contact
• Making endless excuses
• Secretive phone calls
• Locking themselves inside their rooms for long hours
• Eating disorder
• Lying to get money
• Stealing things or money to get what they want
• Sleeplessness
• Sleeplessness or long hours of sleep

Signs of Change in Physical Appearance

• Seizures
• Diarrhea/vomiting
• Bruising
• Nosebleeds
• Eye redness and Nasal irritation
• Weight loss
• Lethargy
• Slurred speech
• Mouth Sores

Apart from these changes, you may also notice that they don’t follow proper hygiene and are also least bothered about their outward appearance.

Parenting Strategy to help your child deal with Drug use:

1. Get To Know About Your Teen’s Friends:

If someone from your child’s friends group uses illegal substances or drink while underage, it is obvious that your child may also feel pressure to experiment with such substances. If you are suspicious of whom your child is spending more time with, talk to them.

2. Help Them Deal With Peer Pressure:

The biggest reason teens start using illegal drugs or alcohol is because of their friend pressure. Just to fit in, they may experiment to use it along with their friends. In such cases, train your child to say “NO” to drugs and other risky behaviors. Make sure they make good choices and friendships.

3. Talk To Your Teen:

This is the best parenting tip for every parent with a teen at home. An ongoing dialog with your teen can make things simple and better. Let them know that you understand the temptations they may have in teenagers. According to a study conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, it states that when parents do talk to their kids about alcohol or drug use while educating them simultaneously with the facts about substance abuse, then their children are 400% less likely to use drugs later in their lives.

4. Establish Ground Rules And Make Them Aware Of The Consequences:

Educate your child on dangers and consequences they will have to face when they fall victim to drug or alcohol abuse. Educate your teen daughter or son about the family’s rules and expectations for one another. Remind them not to ride in a vehicle where there may be an intoxicated driver or leave a party where drug use occurs. Tell them that when such ground rules are not followed, they may have to face the consequences.

5. Help Them Deal With Pressure:

Your teen child may be bombarded with some stressful situations that he/she is trying to cope up. During such situations, they may often look for a good break or a reward and end up in the use of drugs. To help them prevent the use of drugs as a reward, teach them other ways to handle pressure like taking up exercise, reading a good book, engaging in creative activities. Inculcating anything positive can definitely bring a significant change in your child.

6. Seek Professional Help:

Mental wellness and substance abuse are very closely related to each other. Know that those with mental illness may lookout for drugs abuse to ease the pain. Those suffering from any form of mental health illness such as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder should seek professional help from a licensed psychotherapist before it leads to substance abuse.

Final Thoughts:

Undoubtedly, drug addiction is a serious disease that can negatively impact and impair many aspects of an individual life. Proper counseling and treatment plans can help anyone cope up with the disorder. At Psychotherapy Partners in Minneapolis, our expert psychotherapists address the various sides and causes of drug addiction and build customized treatment plans to suit all needs and help with recovery for the one seeking therapy. If you are looking for the best Therapy, then you are at the right place. Get connected with us today.