According to research, almost 50% of American teenagers have used illicit drugs by 12th grade.
Substance abuse among teens is a growing problem. By the time it’s obvious that there is a serious problem, it’s often too late to help them.
The truth is that substance abuse in teens can be hard to notice at first if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Many parents are not aware of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse until it’s too late.
But don’t worry. Keep reading to learn the early substance abuse signs so you can tackle it before it gets worse.
Loss of Interest in Friendships
As hard as it can seem for parents to believe, teenagers want their independence. They do not want adults always watching them or checking up on them – even if this was something they grew used to.
This means that when you notice your teen becoming less and less interested in spending time with friends and family members outside of the home, it should raise some red flags.
Drug use could become one of the reasons why your teen is no longer interested in spending time with friends or family members.
Change in Eating Habits
Substance abuse can have a drastic impact on eating habits for teenagers. This is another reason why parents should be aware of what to look for when it comes to early signs of substance abuse in teens.
When their body lacks the substances that it’s been receiving from drugs or alcohol, they might experience symptoms such as hunger pains and lack of appetite.
That being said, a teenager may not necessarily eat more if they are abusing substances – instead, they might simply lose their interest in eating altogether.
Unexplained Injuries
Injuries that your teen sustains may be a sign of drug use if they are not able to explain how they got the injury. This could also be a problem with alcohol abuse.
This highlights why it’s important to pay attention to any changes in behavior when looking for signs of substance abuse in teens.
Frequently Coming Home Late
Many parents complain about their teenagers coming home late without having given them a warning first. But before thinking anything else there might be some valid reasons behind these actions.
For example, extracurricular activities or events at school getting out later than expected. If this becomes the norm, however, then drug use could be to blame.
Withdrawal From Daily Routine Activities
Withdrawing from everyday activities that your teen has previously enjoyed is yet another sign of substance abuse in teenagers. Things they might stop doing include their favorite hobbies.
This is especially true if they were social events involving other people. This is because drugs can make it difficult for your teenager to feel comfortable around others and enjoy socializing anymore.
Substance abusers often find themselves withdrawing more and more into their own little worlds just so they can keep abusing them instead of dealing with real-world problems that seem too overwhelming.
If you’re noticing these warning signs for teens you need to look into treatment centers like eagleoverlookrecovery.com. They can help you and your family through everything.
Learn More About Substance Abuse in Teens
As a parent, it is difficult to watch your teenager grow and change into an independent adult. If you notice any of the early signs of substance abuse in teens in this article, talk with them about it and how it’s affecting them and others.
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