With the arrival of puberty or adolescence, many are the families that end up experiencing a certain distance between their family members. On the one hand, this is normal, since they are ages in which the minors begin to feel that they need more independence that they have their own ideas and tastes, and they want to experiment with making their own decisions.
So far, everything seems normal. The problem comes when the adolescent begins to feel curious about certain substances that can cause serious problems. This might include cannabis, cocaine, alcohol, and synthetic drugs.
The Curiosity
How do you know if your child may be using drugs? Adolescents are experimenters by nature, At this stage of life, the desire and curiosity to try new things are innate. That is why it is important to get ahead of this time through honest education and fluent communication. We have to bear in mind that these psychoactive substances can be consumed at an increasingly young age. However, certain signs can help you find out if your child is experimenting with this dangerous world. Let us look at some of the things you need to pay attention to.
Know the Truth
You should look your child in the eye. This does not mean that you try to know the truth through their eyes, but that you must pay attention to the physical state of their eyes. Many of the uses of these substances affect these organs, such as redness in the case of marijuana or cannabis use, abnormally dilated pupils, and wide-open eyes with the use of psychotropic drugs such as cocaine, MDMA, ecstasy, etc. You could also notice a lost and glassy look in the case of alcohol consumption.
The Smell
Without a doubt, the smell is key to know if your child uses some of these substances, especially tobacco and alcohol. If your child uses tobacco or joints, the smell will linger on his fingers, hair, and clothing. Probably, if he does not want to be caught, he will have behaviors such as washing his hands a lot or applying cologne out of the ordinary. In the case of alcohol, the smell of their breath is a huge tell-tale.
Changes in Behavior and Hobbies
This is another of the key signs to detect if your child consumes any type of substance. Mood swings are very common in young teenagers, especially irritability, moments of depression, isolation, and aggressiveness. They can show signs by putting aside their daily activities and responsibilities. They might skip class regularly or even put aside the sport they once loved so much to go out at night. It is not decisive, but this attitude can put you on alert.
Negative Friendships
They can get into friendships that can be bad influences. It is key to know your children's environment. Knowing their friends, who they hang out with at their place of study or during their leisure time is important. If these people who accompany them are clearly users of this type of substance, it is likely that your child will end up 'trying' some of them too.
Money Problems
When an adolescent begins to consume these substances, logically this entails an expense outside the normal thing. Be it cannabis or substances like cocaine, they carry an extra cost. They may ask you for more money than they usually ask for. They may find a temporary job and you may not know what they have spent the money on or, in more serious cases, steal money from home.
Conclusion
These are just a few tips on aspects that you should watch out for, especially at risk ages, in which adolescents in their eagerness to try new things and even break the limits, can end up on a path that can be dangerous for their future. Communication and information are key to knowing if your child can be a drug user and avoiding it.
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