How to Tell If Your Child is Using Drugs

Your child has cut off all communications with you, they have changed their appearance, and you don't know any of their new friends. You can help but to expect that they are using drugs, but how to you tell for sure? The old saying is "it takes one to know one", I walked down this path once, and I'd like to share with you what I know.

Children go through several changes throughout their childhood, some in which are perfectly normal. These changes do not mean your child is under the influence of drugs. Unfortunately for parents some of the normal changes, such as likes and dislikes are also warning signs. There are ways however to find out if your child is using or possibly addicted to drugs. A few of these warning signs include:

1) No longer communicating with family and old friends.

2) Changing their style of clothing, music, and other likes and dislikes.

3) Making new friends that they do not want around their family and old friends.

Keep in mind that these are typical signs of a person using drugs, but they are also signs of a young adult trying to find their own identity. Just because they have made a few changes in their appearance, and social gathers doesn't necessarily mean it's time to check them into a rehab. However, sudden changes that raises concern does give you the right to look a little deeper into the issue without feeling guilty. There are also more obvious signs that might help you decide just how concerned you should be.

1) Look into their eyes when they come home or out of their room. You can do this by just looking at them face to face to ask a question. Don't say something like "I'm looking to see if your high", that's only going to upset them regardless of it their using drugs or not. When you look at their eyes, take notice if they are red, what does the pupils look like, and are there dark circles under their eyes.

2) Without being obvious smell their clothes. Does their dirty laundry have a chemical smell to them?

3) Has your child lost or gained a significant amount of weight?

4) Are they more fidgety at times then normal?

5) Do they have more bruises on their body then can be explained?

6) Have you noticed any skin irritations around the mouth, nose, and arms?

7) Does their room have a chemical smell to it?

8) Have you noticed any money missing, or material items missing from the home?

9) Does their breath have a chemical smell to it?

10) Are their strange small burn marks on their hands, face, or clothing?

It is normal for a parent to be worried about their child. If you have reasons to be worried you should talk with your child about the situation. If you think your child will become aggressive, or do something foolish if confronted, then seek professional advice before confronting them. Teens commonly experiment with drugs, such a marijuana but, if you are noticing signs regularly then chances are it's gone beyond experimenting. The reality of it is, even experimenting once can cause them to die. There are several different drugs available for your child, and each one has it's own signs. If they are abusing prescription medications, and it don't have to be theirs, then you will not smell a chemical smell in their room. They could also be injecting narcotics, which will leave no odor. Other street drugs such as crystal meth, has a chemical smell when smoked.

You know your child, and if your gut instinct tells you somethings wrong, then you need to look into it. You can expect your child to be angry if they find out your suspect something, or if you confront them. The questions is, would you rather them be angry with you, or dead?