Identifying Your Child’s Drug Use & Taking Action

When my oldest son was well into his recovery from his heroin addiction we were able to have some frank discussions as to what his mother and I might have missed. We also discussed what parents should do and not do when they suspect drug use by their child. The following list was put together as part of a program my son and I created called “To Help A Child”.

 THINGS TO WATCH FOR

 Physical Signs

• Drastic weight changes – up or down
• Changes in eating habits – amounts, items, times
• Inconsistent sleeping habits
• Stomach issues – vomiting, nausea, general pain
  • Common with opioids as they are known to erode the stomach lining
  • Common sign of withdrawal from use
• Balance and coordination issues
• Smells – it is more obvious with marijuana and alcohol and less obvious with pills, cocaine and heroin
• Lack of attention to personal hygiene
• Clenching jaws or chewing – common with stimulants (cocaine, Adderal) or ecstacy
• Lethargy – common with downers (Rx painkillers – Oxycontin or Norco, anti-anxiety medications (benzodiazepines – Xanax, Klonopin)
• Change in speech patterns – words used, rapid or slurred speech
• Forgetfulness and memory deficits – short term or long term
• Mood swings
• Physical pains and aches – for opioid use it is common to develop back and joint pain
• Needle marks/track marks on arms, hands legs and neck (or any area of the body where a vein can be accessed)
• Pupils – enlarged pupils are a sign of ecstacy or MDMA use; tiny/pin prick pupils are a sign of opioid use

Situational and Behavioral Signs

• Top of the list: spending money has increased – growth can be consistent or drastic 
• Valuable items and money missing from home of friends/family
• New types of drugs or items show up
• Changes in grades, cutting classes, truancy, missing tests and homework assignments, missing school activities
• Changes in friends
  • Hanging out with new people/group
  • Distancing him/herself from old or long-term friends
  • Unwillingness to have you meet and get to know new friends
• Lying
• Loss of job or dismissal from other activities (being kicked off a sports team or club)
• Car accidents
• Minor arrests
• Having friends who are in substance abuse treatment programs
• Complaints of bullying
• Feeling like he/she does not fit in
• Doctor prescribed medications taken for mental health issues are no longer working

HOW YOU CAN REACT

• Don’t panic
• Don’t over-question
• Do not yell at them! Express concern and love from a place of compassion not aggression!
• Keep an open dialogue with your child
• Don’t continually search their room. It is a waste of time! You won’t find what they don’t want you to find.
• Don’t violate their privacy by hacking onto their personal online pages – this will result in distrust and disrupt any change of an open dialogue
• Never question their friends or your friends

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE

• Punishment does not work – they may need professional help and they definitely need your support
• Inform school counselors of your concerns and ask their advice
• Reach out to a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who is experienced in adolescent mental health and addiction counseling
• Offer unconditional help including counseling or treatment 
• Keep home drug tests available
• Never give them cash. If they need food or clothes, buy it for them.
• If it turns out your child is not using drugs, don’t be afraid to admit you were wrong
• Get help for yourself and other family members by attending a local support group 
• Do not care about what other people might think – it is your issue to deal with

I am grateful that my son and I have been able to talk so openly so that hopefully we can help another family. If you have any questions or need support, I am always here to provide it. 

Stuart Kessler, father of a person in recovery
Buffalo Grove, IL
Email: [email protected]

Categorised in: Children, Drug use, Parent, Signs of use

This post was written by live4lali