Unfortunately, it is all too common today for children to play around with drugs. In fact, the age of children experimenting with drugs gets younger and younger with time. It’s normal and to be expected- teenagers like to explore the world, test their boundaries, and discover which kind of life they want to lead. A study by NCDAS (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics) found that 50% of teenagers have misused a drug at least once. Research has shown, however, that although many children will try out some drug or another at some point in their childhood or teenage years, it usually doesn’t develop into an addiction. It’s important to note that there are usually no long-term harmful effects on the body or mind of a child or teen who experiments with drugs for a short period of time.
However, some children play around with drugs and eventually become addicted. The research, statistics, and numbers of child and teen drug overdose deaths are frightening. Additionally, during the childhood and teenage years, children grow physically and mentally, and drugs can stunt growth in various ways. It’s crucial that every adult responsible for the well-being of children or teenagers is aware of drug abuse, the common signs of drug abuse in children or teenagers, and how to react to a child or teenager who is addicted to drugs.
Parents of Addicts
As a parent of a child using drugs, you may feel sad, frustrated, and helpless. The question of how to deal with an addicted son or daughter is one that many parents and guardians face. Although it’s true that children often don’t understand or appreciate their parent’s wisdom, remember that you still have a big influence on your child. The first step is to recognize the common signs of an addiction so that you can identify a potential addiction early on. After confirming your suspicions, the next step is to know what action to take.
Once your child is addicted, it’s almost impossible to ‘talk them out’ of using drugs, as more intense intervention is needed. If you’re wondering how to parent an addict, you can educate yourself on what to say- and what not to say- to your child. You can learn how to support your child through their addiction and, ultimately, their recovery. You can also research different treatment options, including looking into different rehabs or therapy programs, to pave the way to sobriety with love, trust, and respectful communication. Remember that the chances of a child recovering from a substance abuse disorder greatly increase when a solid, supportive family structure is in place.
Signs Your Child is On Drugs
Many signs can indicate a drug addiction in children- some more noticeable than others. There are also different drugs parents should be aware of so they can watch out for traces of these illicit- or even medically prescribed- substances. It must be mentioned that the behavioral and physical changes described here can be normal teen behavior, too. They only hint at a drug addiction when the change is sudden or to the extreme.
Physical signs:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Heavy sweating in cool weather
- Insomnia or restlessness
- Decrease or increase in appetite
- Lack of personal hygiene or care for appearance
- Red eyes and/or runny nose
- Drowsiness
- Considerable weight loss or gain
- Body tremors or uncontrollable shaking
Behavioral signs:
- Hanging out with new friends
- Sudden loss of interest in school, old friends, and hobbies
- Secretive behavior
- Mood swings
- Agitation or irritability
- Decrease in performance at school
- Equipment associated with drug use, such as needles, cigarette packets, etc.
If you’re worried about your child and suspect that they may be addicted to drugs, familiarize yourself with these common signs of drug abuse in children so that you’ll be able to identify an addiction as soon as possible. The sooner the parent identifies the addiction and takes appropriate action, the greater the chances that the short and long-term damage will be minimized. If you suspect that your child may be on drugs, reach out to us at Avenues Recovery so that we can guide you on how to help your child.
Understanding Your Child and Addiction
It’s easy to judge people when we’re ignorant. Especially if you, as a parent, have never struggled with substance use disorder before, you may find it difficult to understand why your child would allow themselves to get sucked into such a terrible disease. If you want to truly connect with your child and help them out of their rut, it’s important first to understand their position so you can empathize with them and increase the chances for productive, effective, and overall positive communication.
Here are some pointers to help you understand why children are addicted to drugs:
- The mind of a teenager is constantly evolving and growing throughout the teen years. Their brain is wired to be curious and have less impulse control than adults, leading them to enjoy experimenting with risky behavior while failing to examine the long-term effects. This causes teens to try out different drugs without considering the fact that ‘just’ experimenting with drugs can end with a full-blown addiction and various negative long-term effects.
- The social pressure that children and teenagers experience is immense. The need to ‘fit in’ and belong to a crowd is one that every adult can identify with, but the pull is stronger for teens because they are at a stage where they are developing their self-confidence and image. Therefore, if their friends are using drugs, it may be very difficult for your child to resist the temptation of joining them.
- Teenagers are always looking for a way to ‘chill.’ They often want to unplug and let loose, and using drugs is a way to distance themselves from reality and feel euphoric. Some teenagers also use drugs as a means to escape difficult, suppressed emotions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, insecurity, and other emotions. In that case, professional intervention may be needed to help the child process and manage their unpleasant emotions.
Once you can empathize with your child and have done sufficient research, you are ready to bring up the topic of addiction with your child.
Talking To Your Drug-Addicted Child
Dealing with a drug-addicted child can be easier than you think if you educate yourself properly. Once you have confirmed that your child is addicted to drugs, prepare to instigate an open, honest, non-judgmental conversation.
Here are some points to help you prepare for a conversation with your child:
- Don’t bring up the conversation when your child is on a ‘high’ from drugs. You’re much more likely to succeed when your child is sober and can focus properly on what you say.
- Be calm, empathetic, and non-judgmental. This may be difficult when the reaction from your child is unfavorable or outright aggressive, but it is achievable with effort. If you respond negatively, you risk shutting down your child and ending the conversation. Prepare for a range of reactions from anger, violence, sobbing, and more.
- Try to keep the conversation two-sided by asking open-ended questions and genuinely listening to what your child responds. Be patient- this conversation can take time if you want to get to the root of the issue.
- Mention the physical or behavioral changes that you have noticed and gently ask, with an open mind, if these changes can be linked to drug addiction. Remember that it is possible that the behavior you have observed is normal adolescent behavior and that there is, in fact, no drug addiction present.
- If your child insists that they are not addicted to drugs, you can discuss what kind of exposure they have had to drugs in the past and turn the conversation to educating your child, in a non-lecturing way, on the risks of using drugs.
- Make it clear to your child that you are always there for them and that they can approach you, without any fear, to discuss their drug use.
- If your child admits that they are dealing with possible drug addiction, present different options to help them recover, including an evaluation with a psychiatrist, one-on-one and group therapies, and a rehab program.
- Reassure your child that you will be supportive throughout their journey and that you will do everything you can to help your child find sobriety.
If your child refuses to discuss the topic with you, stay calm and don’t react strongly. The wisest course of action would be to find a responsible adult that your child admires, respects, or trusts and ask them to intervene on your behalf. This could be an adult in school, a relative your child likes, or a social worker or psychologist.
Support For Parents of Drug-Addicted Children
It is often worthwhile to consider family counseling, group therapy, or 12-step groups like Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, and Alateen (groups designed to support family members of drug addicts). There are many helpful resources online that educate people how to parent an addict and help them navigate this difficult challenge effectively.
Rehab For Children
The classic treatment plan for both adults and children at a reputable rehab program includes medical detox, one-on-one and group therapies, 12-step groups, and more. There are, however, different interventions specifically for children and teenagers that can also be utilized. For example, the initial screening for teenagers will include genetic and environmental considerations. The staff at a rehab center may address teaching healthy habits, behaviors, risk-taking, impulse control, communication, problem-solving, and other CBT-based strategies.
If you are worried about your child’s drug addiction, reach out to Avenues Recovery to discuss a customized treatment plan to help your teenager succeed. Our highly experienced and professional addiction counselors have many years of experience in dealing with addiction, and they can help your child too. Contact us today so that we can start your teenagers journey to sobriety together. The path to recovery may be difficult, but with a supportive family framework, belief in your child, and the appropriate professional intervention, you can help them find a life of peace, serenity, and sobriety.