The first thing to remember is, that there are multiple reasons why your teenager may experiment and subsequently get addicted to the illegal use of drugs (to learn more click here). To be clear, a drug is any substance other than food, that when inhaled, injected, smoked, consumed, absorbed via a patch on the skin or dissolved under the tongue causes a physiological change in the body. Certain medicines maybe legal when prescribed and consumed under the supervision of a qualified doctor, but when these same medicines are consumed without a prescription it is unacceptable and illegal.
If a teenager begins to behave oddly without reason, such as being withdrawn, or being repeatedly tired / depressed, or angry and having uncontrolled behavior it is a possibility that he is developing a drugs problem. Parents tend to ignore these signs thinking that it is a part of growing up and puberty and/or hormonal issues, but if these signs are present then the parents need to be more vigilant. Hence, below are the top seven signs that your teen may have a drug problem:
- a change in peer group & decline in academic performance
- carelessness with grooming
- missing classes or skipping school
- loss of interest in favorite activities
- trouble in school or with the police
- changes in eating or sleeping habits
- deteriorating relationships with family members and friends