Drug Rehab For Teens Is Likely Needed If You See These Tell-tale Signs
If you are a parent, guardian, teacher or other adult responsible for the well-being of a teenager or young adult, you need to know the main signs and symptoms of someone with a substance abuse problem. Professional studies have proven that the best success in dealing with substance abuse is to get the abuser into and through cdrug rehab as soon as possible. Drug addiction and dependence create a fairly standard set of indicators, particularly among young adults. When you discover the problem to be drugs or alcohol, you can’t waste any time discussing it, arguing or pleading. You have to call a drug rehab counselor and get some professional assistance. Drug rehab may be the only salvation for this youngster.
One of the problems with anyone who is drug-dependent is that they are usually the last ones to recognize their own symptoms of dependence and addiction and need for drug rehab. They often try to pass off their symptoms as something else - “it’s just a cold”, “I’m getting the sniffles”, “I didn’t sleep well last night”, “I have a headache” and so on. They are minimizing the problem to themselves, and hiding it from you. They won’t admit it without your help and won’t get handled without a proper drug rehab program.
There are several telltale signs of drug abuse among teens. A parent’s job is to distinguish between what’s normal and what is a red flag that indicates a drug rehab program is probably needed. According to the National Drug Intelligence Center, sudden changes in personality, appearance, school performance, or extracurricular activities may indicate teen drug use. A previously well-behaved and respectful kid might suddenly become an emotionally volatile, hostile, or violent stranger. These are all red flags announcing: “Call a drug rehab counselor right now and let a professional help sort this out.”
Teenage addiction drug rehab specialists say that kids who are abusing drugs can withdraw from the family, alienate old friends, drop out of usual activities and neglect their schoolwork. You might see secretive behavior, lying to cover up drug abuse, stealing, ask for money, or selling possessions to support their habit.
Here is a list of tell-tale signs that young people with drug problems might need drug rehab:
* Negative changes in schoolwork, missing school, or declining grades.
* Angry outbursts, mood swings, irritability, manic behavior, or overall attitude change.
* Increased secrecy about possessions or activities; spending a lot of time alone in their room with the door shut.
* Expressing feelings of exhaustion, depression, and hopelessness.
* Deterioration in physical appearance and grooming.
* Sudden change in clothing choices - fascination with odd styles that could highlight drug use, wearing sunglasses or long sleeve shirts at inappropriate times.
* Subtle changes in conversations with friends, more secretive, using “coded” language. Or new friends you never heard of before, especially known users or “risk-takers”.
* Use of incense, room deodorant, or perfume that could hide smoke or chemical odors.
* Increase in borrowing money, or selling possessions, or items missing from the house that could have been taken and sold.
* Evidence of inhaling products and accessories, such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid, paper bags and rags, and common household products.
* Bottles of eye-drops suddenly appearing, which can be used to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils.
* New use of mouthwash or breath mints which could be covering up the smell of alcohol.
* Missing prescription drugs, especially narcotics and mood stabilizers, from your medicine cabinet.
* Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors, such as making frequent trips to the restroom, basement, or other isolated areas where drug use might be undisturbed.
If you see some of these signals among one or more teenagers in your care, a very serious, no-nonsense discussion is called for. You need to get your questions answered honestly. If you have any doubt whatsoever, call an alcohol and drug rehab program counselor immediately and get the professional help and opinions you need.
Rod MacTaggart is a freelance writer who contributes articles on health.
http://www.drugrehabreferral.com
Tags: alcohol and drug rehab, drug abuse, drug addiction, drug rehab, drug rehab program
