Parents may have difficulty in determining whether their teen may be using drugs or if their behavior is normal adolescent behavior or possible depression. Common behavioral signs of substance use are:
• Change in behavior- withdrawn, frequently tired, hostile, change in appetite,
• Changes in peer group or friends,
• Change in grooming, missing school, decrease in grades,
• Deteriorating family relationships,
• Loss of interest in what would normally be a favorite activity.
• Secretive behavior, missing curfew,
• Avoiding eye contact.
Signs of mental illness and addiction may appear similar and include isolation, delusional thinking, unjustified fears, change in weight or appetite, mood swings, too little or too much sleep, neglect of self-care, and restlessness (American Addiction Centers, 2019).
Parents may underestimate the risks of adolescent drug use (NIH, 2014) and one in five do not intervene to prevent continued use (American Addiction Center, 2019). Parents can ask direct questions to initiate a conversation with their teens, if parents are uncomfortable, they may want to enlist the assistance of a primary care provider or counselor (NIH, 2014).
References:
American Addiction Centers (2019). Guide for parents of addicted children and teens part I: The addiction problem. Retrieved from: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/guide-for-parents-i
National Institute on Drug Abuse (2014). Principles of adolescent substance use disorder treatment: A research based guide. Retrieved from: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-adolescent-substance-use-disorder-treatment-research-based-guide/frequently-asked-questions/what-are-signs-drug-use-in-adolescents-what-role-can-parents-play-in-getting-treatment`
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