How To Know If My Son Or Daughter Takes Drugs: 10 Keys To Detect It
Adolescence and youth are difficult ages full of changes, in which many adolescents and young people do things that they may regret later. During these ages, risk perception is lower and, therefore, many young people carry out many behaviors without being fully aware of their consequences.
Some of these behaviors include unprotected sex, reckless driving, or drug use. If you are the parent of a boy or girl of this age, in this article we will talk about this last point and delve deeper into the signs that can indicate if your son or daughter uses drugs
People live through a stage of change during adolescence and youth. Not only in terms of the development of sexual and reproductive functions, but also in terms of social status, since it becomes very important in these years.
Adolescents are born experimenters and it is easy for them to carry out risky behaviors without being aware of the consequences of their behavior, simply to improve their image. The egocentrism characteristic of this stage of life, as well as the importance and influence that friends have, are some of the reasons why they behave this way.
One of the most worrying phenomena of this age is the propensity to consume drugs , which is, in many cases, recreational. Marijuana, cocaine, MDMA, among others, are psychoactive substances that can begin to be consumed at relatively early ages.
Although many young people experience drug use as a simple life experience and later give it up, others remain hooked for the rest of their lives, which causes serious problems in different areas of their lives (work, interpersonal relationships, etc.). ) and your health.
Drug use is one of the great concerns of parents, which They are the key figures in terms of preventing this behavior in their children Logically, teenagers who take drugs will try to hide it.
If you are a father or mother and want to know how to recognize the signs that warn that your son or daughter regularly consumes these substances, in the following lines you can find a list of keys and telltale signs.
1. How does it smell?
Some drugs such as marijuana or tobacco leave a strong odor on those who take them. Surely, if your child is a consumer, he will employ a series of strategies to minimize the chances of being caught. Chewing gum, cleaning your hands repeatedly, and even applying cologne in an exaggerated way are some examples of this.
However, there are always traces of the smell, either in the hands where the cigarette or joint is held, or in the clothing or hair, because if they smoke in a closed place it is easy for the smell to remain in these places. You can try having a conversation with your child right when he gets home from hanging out with his friends. You can also smell your child’s clothes before putting them in the washing machine.
2. How do you have your eyes?
It is possible to detect drug use in the eyes. But it must be clear that each drug has its effects and, therefore, there are several visible signs that can manifest in this part of the body.
Marijuana, for example, causes the eyes to redden and a drowsy look to appear In the case of drugs such as ecstasy, the eyes adopt what is known as “dish-shaped eyes”, well rounded, open and with dilated pupils. Cocaine, on the other hand, also causes a form similar to that generated by this designer drug, but its effects are less exaggerated.
Drugs cause a very noticeable change in mood in people who consume them, especially when they are not drugged. This usually occurs because the body is asking for the drug to be used again, and therefore They can be irritable, grumpy, and even aggressive Furthermore, the presence of parents makes young people who consume very uncomfortable, as they prefer to spend time alone to do their thing.
4. Are there any medicines missing from the medicine cabinet?
Some young people do not use a single drug, but experiment with several types of substances. For example, marijuana, cocaine and speed. But many of these young people can also reach into the medicine cabinet at home to try new sensations. Diazepam or cough medicines There are some drugs that they can consume. If you have noticed that some medications you had at home disappear, it is cause for concern.
5. Do you have unhealthy friendships?
Friends are very important socializing agents at this age, so if your child hangs out with regular consumers, you will be more likely to develop harmful habits Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to whether your child has developed unhealthy friendships, because it can be a clear indicator of what your child can do when he is with them.
6. Do other family members take drugs?
If other family members take drugs, their children are also more likely to use psychoactive substances. Studies show that if parents are consumers (for example, if the father is an alcoholic) their children can develop behaviors of this type.
In addition, If the older brother or sister consumes, There is also a greater risk that the latter will copy his negative behavior, since he is usually a model for the little brother.
The drug has a devastating effect on the life of the person who uses it, and this includes their work or studies. This is not always the case, but, especially in the case of hard drugs, it is possible that many young people put aside your responsibilities to live a rather idle life For example, bad grades or “bells” in school can also be an indicator of your bad habits.
8. Do you have financial problems?
If your child works summers and He spends all his money but you don’t know what, The reason may be drug use. Drugs generally have a high cost, and people who use drugs often suffer financial problems. Substances like cocaine are especially expensive.
9. Does he show other behavioral changes?
Different types of drugs have different effects. For example, some are relaxing and others are stimulating However, you surely know your son or daughter well, and if you notice changes in behavior that make you suspicious, these substances may be behind it.
If he is always tired and lazy he may use marijuana, if he speaks in a strange way (for example, very fast) he may take amphetamines, if he goes two days without sleep he may use cocaine, and if he is very reserved and avoids being with The rest of the family may hide other types of habits of this kind.
10. Make a global assessment
Young people live a delicate stage of their lives, full of changes Drug use is common at these ages, so parents must be alert to prevent this behavior from having negative effects on their future.
The previous points are signs that may indicate that your son or daughter has entered the world of drugs, but they cannot be assessed independently: the more previous points that are met, the greater the probability that your child is a drug user. drugs.
