Adolescence and youth are difficult and full of change, with many teens and young adults doing things they may regret later. During these ages, the perception of risk is lower and therefore many young people carry out many behaviours without being fully aware of their consequences.

Some of these behaviors include unprotected sex, reckless driving, or drug use. If you are the parent of a boy or girl of this age, in this article we will discuss the latter point and look in more depth at the signs that may indicate if your son or daughter is using drugs .

Adolescence: a time of change

People are living a time 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 is of great importance during these years.

Adolescents are born experimenters and it is easy for them to carry out risky behaviours without being aware of the consequences of their behaviour, simply to improve their image. The self-centeredness characteristic of this stage of life, as well as the importance and influence of friendships, are some of the reasons why they behave this way.

One of the most worrying phenomena of this age is the propensity for drug use , which is, in many cases, of a recreational type. Marijuana, cocaine, MDMA, among others, are psychoactive substances that can be started at relatively early ages.

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

How to detect if your child is taking drugs

Drug use is one of the major concerns of parents, who are the key figures in preventing this behaviour in their children . Logically, adolescents who take drugs will try to hide it.

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If you are a parent and you want to know how to recognize the signs that your child is consuming these substances regularly, in the following lines you will find a list of clues and telltale signs.

1. What does it smell like?

Some drugs such as marijuana or tobacco leave a strong odor in those who take them. If your child is a user, he or she will probably employ a number of strategies to minimize the chances of getting caught. Chewing gum, repeatedly cleaning their hands and even applying cologne in an exaggerated way are some examples of this.

However, traces of the smell always remain, whether in the hands where you hold the cigarette or joint, or on the clothes or hair, because if you smoke in an enclosed area the smell is easily carried over to these places. You can try having a conversation with your child right when he or she comes home from being with friends. You can also smell your child’s clothes before you put them in the washing machine.

2. How are your eyes?

It is possible to detect drug use in the eyes. But it must be clear that every drug has its effects and therefore there are several visible signs that can be seen in this part of the body.

Marijuana, for example, causes the eyes to become red and a drowsy look to appear . In the case of drugs such as ecstasy, the eyes adopt what is known as “plate-shaped eyes”, which are well rounded, open and have 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 use them, especially when they are not high. This usually happens because the body is asking to use the drug again, and therefore they may be irritable, grumpy and even aggressive . In addition, the presence of parents makes young people who use drugs very uncomfortable, as they prefer to spend time alone to act out.

4. Are there any medicines missing from the medicine cabinet?

Some young people do not use a single drug, but experiment with several types of substances. For example, marijuana, cocaine and speed. But many of these young people can also reach into the medicine cabinet at home to try out new sensations. Diazepam or cough medicines are some drugs that they may use. If you have noticed that some medicines you had at home are disappearing, this is a cause for concern.

5. Do you have any unhealthy friendships?

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

6. Do other family members take drugs?

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

Likewise, if the older brother or sister consumes, there is also a greater risk that the latter will copy his or her negative behaviour, as he or she is usually a model for the younger brother or sister.

7. Have you neglected your responsibilities?

The drug has a devastating effect on the life of the person who uses it, and this includes their work or studies. This is not always the case, but, especially in the case of hard drugs, it is possible that many young people leave behind their responsibilities to live a rather idle life . For example, bad grades or “bells” at school can also be an indicator of their bad habits.

8. Do you have financial problems?

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

9. Do you show any other behavioral changes?

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

If he is always tired and lazy he may use marijuana, if he talks in a strange way (for example, very fast) he may use amphetamines, if he goes two days without sleep he may use cocaine, and if he is very reserved and avoids being with the rest of the family he may hide other kinds of habits of this kind.

10. Make an overall assessment

Young people live a delicate stage of their lives, full of changes . Drug use is frequent at these ages, so parents should be alert because to avoid this behaviour having negative effects on their future.

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