Drug use is a concern that crosses every parent’s mind at one point or another. No matter how much faith you may have in your child, there is always the concern that your child could be exposed to drug use by being around the wrong people. How would they respond? Would they give in to peer pressure? 

There may also be times during the child’s teenage years when you may suspect that they are engaging in drug use. This could be due to poor performance in school, unusual mood swings, or a great number of other factors. No matter how much you may want to believe that your child would never even consider drug use, it is still vital to recognize the signs and address the situation if it were ever to occur. 

Signs That Your Teen Could Be Engaging in Drug Use

As a parent, you probably want to be certain that your child is engaging in drug use prior to confronting them about it due to how they may react. It is also important to remember that some factors that may appear to be signs of drug use are actually a result of a different issue. 

For example, perhaps the child is struggling with low self-esteem, being bullied, or has an undiagnosed mental health condition like depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety. They may even be in an unhealthy or abusive relationship that you are not aware of. If this is the case, you should have an honest conversation with them and help them obtain the necessary professional care. 

If you do have good reason to suspect that your teen could be engaging in drug use but are not certain, look out for the following signs of a substance use disorder: 

• Unexplained changes in appearance, for example, less care placed on their hygiene 
• They have begun isolating themselves from others
• Unusual and unexplained signs of aggression
• Suddenly switching to a different friend group and not ever introducing them to family members
• Acting defensive when asked a question
• Showing signs of sadness or low motivation
• Sudden changes in weight
• Changes in appetite 
• Acting secretive or being caught in lies
• Spending extended periods away at friends’ houses
• Not wanting anyone to go inside their room
• Sleeping for excessively long amounts of time and still seeming tired 

If your teen is exhibiting some or many of these symptoms, they may be engaging in drug use and need professional help. 

How to Talk to Your Child About Drug Use

If you believe that your child is engaging in drug use, you will eventually need to approach them about it directly. You should carefully plan out and prepare yourself for this important interaction first. You will want to choose the time and place the conversation is going to occur. It should preferably take place during a time of day when the teen seems most aware and unagitated. The conversation should occur in a calm, private area where the teen will feel safe and comfortable, such as their bedroom. 

You should also prepare for their reaction when you ask them if they are engaging in drug use. They may become angry and defensive or deny that they have a problem altogether. They may even lash out and say hurtful things, but do not let this daunt you or hold you back from addressing the issue at hand. 

It is important to make it clear that you are coming from a place of love and concern, not of judgment. Encourage them to open up about what they are struggling with. Explain to them how what they are doing concerns you and remind them of what consequences their drug use could potentially lead to. 

For example, they could get in trouble with the law, which could impact their ability to get into college or obtain a job. Or they could suffer more serious consequences, such as damage to their health, some of which may be irreparable. By helping to put these things into perspective, you may help your child realize that what they are doing is very serious and harmful. 

Finally, you will want to encourage your child to get the professional help they need. You want them to make this as easy as possible by finding the proper treatment facility that meets their needs. Be sure to speak with the individuals that will be helping with their treatment and take care of logistics such as transportation. 

Struggling with a teen engaging in substance use can be very stressful. Do not forget to take care of your own mental health and reach out to a therapist if necessary. 

Many parents have such great faith in their children that they do not believe that they will ever consider engaging in drug use. But the truth is that peer pressure is a real thing, and it only takes a second to make a bad decision they will later regret. This is why it is so important to not only be aware of the signs of drug use in teens but how to approach them if they are using drugs. Some common signs include withdrawing from others, sudden changes in weight, secrecy or deceit, defensiveness, and poor hygiene. If you believe your child is engaging in drug use, approach them in a calm and loving way that is not judgemental. Remind them of what the consequences of their actions could be and help them get treatment. To learn more, call The Kimberly Center at (855) 452-3683.