Warning Signs of Kids on Drugs

If you fear your child is using drugs, you may be asking yourself which drugs he is abusing and how he got access to them. Symptoms of drug use may be blatant, such as hallucinating on LSD, or more subtle, such as slowed reaction resulting from smoking marijuana. Determining the drug and level of abuse will help you decide how best to help your child.

  1. Commonly Abused Drugs

    • Teenagers often have ready access to alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs. Drugs that are readily available to teenagers come in the form of inhalants, which are easy to purchase. They include computer duster spray or cleaning products. One of the most harmful and addictive drugs teenagers may use are prescription painkillers, which may be found in your medicine cabinet or the medicine cabinets at their friends' houses. Addictive drugs such as oxycontin, vicodin and benzodiazepine are often prescribed for pain and anxiety, and are often later abused.

    Signs of Abuse

    • The symptoms of drug abuse vary depending on the substance your child is using. Kids who are smoking marijuana may have red eyes and seem slowed down. They may laugh at things that aren't necessarily funny. A teenager on painkillers may have a dull affect, meaning her personality may seem subdued and her speech may be slurred. Hallucinogens such as LSD and mushrooms cause the user to see or hear things that aren't there. Crystal meth and cocaine often take away the appetite and cause days of sleeplessness and rapid speech. Opiates such as heroin and oxycontin often cause the user to fall asleep in the middle of a sentence.

    Use vs. Addiction

    • There is a difference between occasional use and addiction. Some kids may drink or smoke pot at parties, or they may try a drug once or twice and decide it's not for them. When use becomes chronic and interferes with a teenager's school and social life, or if he is using every day, he may be addicted. Some drugs, such as heroin, meth and cocaine, are more addictive than others, such as marijuana.

    Treatment for Addicted Teens

    • Treatment centers for addicted kids are readily available. The options range from boot camps to costly rehab facilities with pools and private rooms. If you are unsure where to turn for help, talk to your physician or attend a 12-step, Al-Anon support meeting. Al-Anon is free and open to families and friends of addicted loved ones. Call psychotherapists in your area who specialize in child psychology or addiction and recovery. They can point you to a treatment program that is right for you and your addicted child.

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