Parents: 6 Signs of Drug Addiction To Look Out For
Addiction and unhealthy dependence on hard drugs, prescription drugs and other harmful substances is on the rise these days. One other dangerous dimension to this trend is that its beginning of lot younger people in their teens and is making it difficult for them to functional normally. Many of such young lives are been cut short due to drug overdose.
Parents now have a greater responsibility to be vigilant and pay more attention to what the young and teenage children do so as to help and intervene before they fall into the trap of drug addiction. To be able to help their young wards, parents and guardians need to be able to spot the signs of drug use and addiction.
Here are 5 major signs to look out for in case of drug addiction:
Change in behaviour and personality
One of the signs of constant drug use and addiction is a change in behaviour and personality. Parents may find a change in behaviour like withdrawal from family members and other company, sudden aggressiveness, agitation, bad temper, extreme quietness or talkativeness and a lack of motivation and a lack of interest in former hobbies , among other things.
Bloodshot eyes
Frequently bloodshot eyes is a oftentimes a reliable indicator that a young one is involved with drug and substance abuse. A frequently bloody nose is also something to watch out for.
Change in routine
Sudden changes in the daily routine of a person especially a teenager or young person who is still under the guardianship of parents is not usually a good sign. An inability to account for a number of hours in a day and without explanation might be a sign of involvement with drugs. Complaints from known friends that they never get to see the person concerned even though he/she uses visiting them as an excuse to get out of the house regularly.
Sudden and unexplained need for more money
If you find that your child or ward is now suddenly asking for or needing more for things that cannot be explained, you may be dealing with a child who is hooked on some kind of drug. You may need to take action to investigate and find out the purpose of this sudden need for money so as to to be able to intervene before the addiction wrecks more havoc.
Lies and stealing
When drug use and abuse has transitioned into drug addiction, it is often accompanied by a new pattern of lying in the person’s behaviour and sometimes stealing. Lying may be done to get money to take drugs, to cover up the drug addiction and give account for absences or as a means to keep up to the impression that family and friends have about the drug user and avoid their disappointment and anger.
Stealing begins to happen when the need to constantly take drugs is overwhelming and there are no resources to do so. It may eventually lead the user into other serious crimes.