Children have always been a great source of worry for parents. They look upon them for years with the hope of ending up being good and responsible humans. Unfortunately, while there are extensive books, articles, and other sources educating to raise a kid, only a few of them works well, whereas it mostly is down to just trial and error methods.
Meanwhile, if kids are caught taking drugs, they could face trials and ruin their lives. So, as a parent, it is vital to look out for signs. However, figuring out whether or not a child takes drugs is challenging. It closely monitors their signs, symptoms, mental health, depressional signs, anxiety, or other behavioral issues.
If you suspect your child of taking drugs, don’t be afraid to do the needful. Also, we have curated the different signs that you can correlate with your child’s overall behavior to confirm your suspicion. So read on to know the warning signs!
- Search their spaces for Possessing drugs
The first and the foremost sign is the possession of drugs. Some of the drugs, like marijuana, have a fairly different appearance; there are several drugs that you cannot mark out from a regularly prescribed pill.
So, what to do in such a possible scenario? So, when you find pills while searching, check out the symbols on the pills. Again, the internet is the best available resource for you to identify the pill.
In addition, go straight to your child and ask them about the same pills.
- Odd smells
Another prominent sign of a child taking drugs is the odd smell. However, these odd smells could be from any source, like a newly bought deodorant or a marijuana-laced smokey smell.
However, if you aren’t sure about the source of the smell, it is high time to educate yourself a little about how different drugs like marijuana smells. For doing this, the best possibility is to consult a known cop to show you a sample of marijuana to see and smell it.
- Deteriorating grades
The moment you witness grades deteriorating for your child. A child who was a straight-A student now gets only F and D; you should understand that something has changed.
Rapid grade changes are the most common sign of substance use by children. However, changing grades is due to an array of several factors as well, so you need to be extra cautious while treading this sign.
- Glazed or stoned expressions
While some children’s expressions hardly reveal anything, some children’s expressions are a sure sign of addiction. However, remember that teenagers and children in their 20s aren’t good at communicating their feelings and thoughts. But, when a kid showcases glazed and stoned expressions almost every time, you need to probe in deeper.
- Abandoning friend circle
Throughout the teenage years, kids abandon friends to make new ones. It is normal. However, sometimes, it might have more sinister implications as well. So, when you find out that your child is hanging out with a new group of friends. It might be just a phase.
But, when you make out the children in the group smoke, this new grouping and hanging out could be linked to substance use.
- Andoning social activities and interests
When a child abandons social interests and activities, this is a potential sign indicating that the child is taking drugs.
While it is normal for a child to change or quit social activities or interests throughout this phase, a lighter treading is imperative here.
- Behavioral changes
It is a common sign of substance use in children. Although it is normal for teens to be moody and stubborn, sudden and abrupt behaviors sometimes hold for substance use. Is your child jittery in the morning? Is the child calmer in the evening? You must probe deeper into the matter.
- Memory issues or unexplained injuries
It is alright to forget things, but you need to question them further when a child forgets the basic things. In addition, when your child comes home with unexplained injuries, this could be due to a medical reason, bullying, or even substance use.
So, it is highly advisable to take the child for OZ drug testing immediately upon witnessing this or any of the above-mentioned signs of taking drugs to confirm your suspicion of substance use.
Conclusion
When your probing reveals evidence of substance use by your child, you must prepare to have a face-to-face conversation with the child. In addition, you must stand by your decision to take the child to get the much-needed professional help to overcome this phase of life.
