A very commonly asked question of a parent with a struggling teen is How Do You Know if Your Teen is on Drugs?
Behavior Changes
Behavior Becomes Secretive
Changes in Physical Appearance
- Your child may show up with bloodshot eyes.
- They might start losing weight and have a sickly appearance.
- You find wounds, needle marks, bruises, and burns on their arms that you cannot otherwise explain.
- They constantly have flushed cheeks.
- If your child starts wearing long-sleeves on even the hottest days, they might be hiding something.
- You may find soot or burns on the lips or fingers.
- You might find yellow residue on their index finger.
- Their lips may appear to be brown.
- They start to care less about their hygiene and have an overall disheveled appearance.
- If you see them having tremors or shaking for no apparent reason.
- If they have a constant cough or a runny nose without having a cold.
- They might have an unusual smell in their clothes or breath. You might also find them chewing gum or using large quantities of mouthwash to mask this smell.
- You might find them constantly licking their lips.
Changes Around their Room
Providing Support
So, how do you know if your teen is on drugs? If you have suspicions that your teen is using alcohol or any other drug, the best thing you can do is ask them directly instead of accusing them. This is one of the most successful ways of showing your teen that you love and support them, which opens the door for discussion. If you find that your suspicion is right, there are several great facilities where you can take your teen to get them the help they need. At Key Healthcare, we provide mental health treatment for teens, teen drug treatment, mentoring, teen IOP and teen sober living to adolescents so that they feel empowered enough to change their habits. It is important to understand that something is bothering them. With the help of counseling, teenage drug addiction treatment methods, and other therapeutic methods, teen drug addiction can be fixed, and they can start living a healthy, productive life. It all starts with a phone call, and family support. Contact us today.