How to know if my son or daughter is taking drugs: 10 keys to detect it

There are some warning signs that help detect substance use in young people.

Adolescence and young adulthood are difficult ages full of changes, in which many adolescents and young people do things they may regret later on. During these ages, the perception of risk is lower and, therefore, many young people take and, therefore, many young people engage in many behaviors without being fully aware of their consequences.

Some of these behaviors include unprotected sex, reckless driving or drug use. If you are a parent of a boy or girl of this age, in this article we will talk about this last point and delve into the signs that can indicate if your son or daughter is using drugs..

• Article: "Types of drugs: know their characteristics and effects".

Adolescence: a time of change

People live a stage of change in adolescence and youth. Not only in terms of the development of sexual and reproductive functions, but also in terms of social status, which becomes very important during these years.

Adolescents are born experimenters and it is easy for them to engage in risky behaviors without being aware of the consequences of their behavior, simply to improve their image. The egocentrism characteristic of this stage of life, as well as the importance and influence of friendships, are some of the reasons why they behave in this way.

One of the most worrisome phenomena of this age is the propensity to drug usewhich is, in many cases, recreational. Marijuana, cocaine, MDMA, among others, are psychoactive substances that can begin to be consumed at a relatively early age.

Although many young people live drug use as a simple life experience and later quit, others remain hooked for the rest of their lives, causing them serious problems in different areas of their lives (work, interpersonal relationships, etc.) and their health.

How to detect if your child takes drugs

The consumption of drugs is one of the great worries of the parents, who are the key figures in the are the key figures in preventing this behavior in their children.. Logically, teenagers who take drugs will try to hide it.

If you are a parent and want to know how to recognize the warning signs that your son or daughter is a habitual drug user, you will find a list of clues and telltale signs in the following lines.

1. How does it smell?

Some drugs such as marijuana or tobacco leave a strong odor on those who take them. Surely, if your child is a user, he or she will employ a number of strategies to minimize the chances of getting caught. Chewing gum, repeatedly wiping their hands, and even applying cologne are a few examples.

However, there are always traces of the odor, either on the hands where they hold the cigarette or joint, or on their clothes or hair, because if they smoke indoors it is easy for the odor to linger in these places. You can try having a conversation with your child right when he or she comes home from hanging out with friends. You can also smell your child's clothes before putting them in the washing machine.

2. How are his eyes?

Drug use can be detected in the eyes. But it must be clear that each drug has its effects and, therefore, there are several visible signs that can manifest in this part of the body.

Marijuana, for example, causes the eyes to redden and a drowsy look to appear.. In the case of drugs such as ecstasy, the eyes adopt what is known as "saucer eyes", well rounded, open and with dilated pupils. Cocaine, on the other hand, also causes a similar shape to that generated by this designer drug, but its effects are less exaggerated.

3. Do you have mood swings?

Drugs cause a very noticeable mood change in people who take them, especially when they are not high. This usually happens because the body is asking for the drug to be used again, and therefore they may become irritable, grumpy and even aggressive.. In addition, the presence of parents makes young drug users very uncomfortable, as they prefer to spend time alone to do their own thing.

4. Is there a lack of drugs in the medicine cabinet?

Some young people do not use only one drug, but experiment with several types of substances. For example, marijuana, cocaine and speed. But many of these young people may also reach into the medicine cabinet at home to try new sensations. Diazepam or cough medicine are some of the drugs they may use. are some drugs they may use. If you've noticed that some medications you had at home are disappearing, that's cause for concern.

5. Do you have unhealthy friendships?

Friends are very important socializing agents at this age, so if your child hangs out with regular users, he or she is more likely to develop unhealthy habits, they are more likely to develop unhealthy habits. Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to whether your child has developed unhealthy friendships, because it can be a clear indicator of what your child may do when he or she is with them.

6. Are other family members taking drugs?

If other family members take drugs, children are also more likely to use psychoactive substances. Studies show that if parents are drug users (e.g., if the parent is an alcoholic), children may develop drug-using behaviors.

Also, if the older brother or sister uses, There is also an increased risk that the older brother or sister will copy the negative behavior, since he or she is often a role model for the younger sibling.

7. Has he or she abandoned his or her responsibilities?

Drugs have a devastating effect on the abuser's life, including his or her work or studies. This is not always the case, but, especially in the case of hard drugs, it is possible that many young people responsibilities in order to live a rather idle life.. For example, poor grades or "bells" in high school may also be an indicator of their bad habits.

8. Does your child have financial problems?

If your child works summers and spends all his money but you don't know on what, drug use may be the reason. Drugs generally have a high cost, and people who use drugs often have financial problems. Substances such as cocaine are especially expensive.

9. Does it show other behavioral changes?

Different types of drugs have different effects. For example, some are relaxing and others are stimulants.. However, you probably know your son or daughter well, and if you notice changes in behavior that make you suspicious, these substances may be behind it.

If he is always tired and sluggish he may be using marijuana, if he talks in a strange way (for example, very fast) he may be taking amphetamines, if he goes two days without sleeping he may be using cocaine, and if he is very reserved and avoids being with the rest of the family he may be hiding other habits of this kind.

10. Make an overall assessment

The young people live a delicate stage of their life, full of changes.. The consumption of drug is frequent at these ages, reason why the parents must be alert because to avoid that this behavior has negative effects in its future.

The above points are signs that may indicate that your son or daughter has entered the world of drugs, but they cannot be assessed independently: the more of the above points that are met, the greater the likelihood that your child is a drug user.