How Do You Know If Your Kid is High?
Monitoring your children for drug abuse might seem intrusive, but it can help you understand if their mood swings and odd actions could indicate addiction or simply teenagerhood.
Keep an eye out for any sudden shifts in their behavior, like dropping their grades or switching up their circle of friends. Furthermore, be wary of any suspicious items they might be hiding away in drawers and other secret spots.
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1. They’re slurring their speech
Slurred speech is one of the clearest indicators of teenage substance abuse, and can also indicate many types of drugs including marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, MDMA LSD or Ecstasy use. Drugs can affect brain, heart and nervous systems leading to slurred speech affecting communication in other ways as well. Slurred speech may also be indicative of cerebral palsy, head injury/stroke recovery or Parkinson’s disease as well as brain tumour or Lyme disease which all could contribute to it slurred speech symptoms.
When teens are high, their eyes become reddened and heavy-lidded, with constricted pupils that may be difficult to detect without wearing contact lenses. Furthermore, they may use products like mouthwash or body sprays to mask the smell of marijuana from their breath.
Be mindful of their behavior to know whether your child is on something, such as drugs. Watch out for unusual or erratic behavior like loud and disruptive laughter at nothing or being more careless with themselves than usual, tripping over themselves or breaking things. Also pay attention for signs that they seem tired and queasy than usual for the time of night?
Slurred speech may be caused by any number of medical conditions; however, when coupled with other symptoms – like an unusually fast or slow heart rate and involuntary teeth-clenching – it could be indicative of drug abuse in teens. If their behavior seems out-of-the ordinary to you, be sure to discuss what’s going on with them immediately.
2. They’re avoiding eye contact
When someone is high on marijuana, they often become more distant from their surroundings and lose interest in activities they once enjoyed, like school clubs or hobbies they once loved. Cannabis use may also become necessary to them surviving throughout the day if withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, irritability and nausea occur when without it; such withdrawal symptoms could include fatigue, irritability and depression.
Search their house for signs that they might be smoking pot, such as remnants of ash on clothing or an unopened lighter in their drawer. Also observe whether they’re using an unusually large amount of deodorant, or whether their room smells of smoke – if any of these clues arise, have an open and honest dialogue about their drug use with them.
An early indicator that your teenager has begun using Marijuana is respiratory problems. They might develop an uncomfortable cough that won’t go away or they could get frequent lung infections. Marijuana can worsen mental health conditions; so if they already suffer from anxiety or depression it could prove even more hazardous for them.
Keep an eye out for any unusual changes in your child’s behavior, like sudden outbursts of loud and disruptive laughter or uncharacteristically laughing for no discernable reason; acting out of character like being loud and disruptive or laughing uncontrollably over nothing; acting clumsily by tripping over things often or being tired all of the time? All these could be indicators that they’ve used marijuana or drugs – as could sudden drop in grades such as an A student suddenly receiving Cs? Also monitor grades; does your straight A student suddenly switch into receiving Cs?
3. They’re wearing sunglasses indoors
Teens often try to hide their drug use. If your child starts speaking in code with friends or seems more forgetful than normal when high, that could be an indicator they’re engaging in drug use such as marijuana or other illegal substances.
Pay attention for sudden shifts in their personality or mood. If they suddenly seem irritable and sluggish, or their relationships with you and other family members appear distant and cold, it could be evidence that they’ve started using marijuana.
Changes in your child’s circle of friends could also be a telltale sign they’re getting involved with drugs. If they start hanging out with new people, make sure you ask about it, and watch for paraphernalia like tin boxes, rolled-up newspapers, mouthwash or body spray bottles or small burn marks on their fingertips from smoking a joint.
If your teen returns home from a night out and their eyes are red, it could be due to marijuana or other drugs being consumed. When dilated pupils cause red eyes. Furthermore, there may be an unusual odor on their breath or clothing or they could even wear more deodorant or chew mint-flavored gum than usual.
When approaching your child about drugs, be careful not to scare or threaten them in any way – this will only make them defensive and less willing to open up. Instead, show that you care by having an honest discussion face-to-face.
4. They’re avoiding you
If your teenager has recently begun to shun you or spend more time with their friends than with you, this could be a telltale sign that they’re using drugs. Children and teenagers often turn to substances for various reasons: fitting in with peers; managing emotions or seeking relief from symptoms; self-medication – so it is essential that parents become aware of underlying issues early in order to seek professional assistance as quickly as possible in order to stop more serious cases from developing.
Your teen may display red and heavy-lidded eyes or constricted pupils; both indicators of marijuana use. In addition, they might wear more deodorant than usual or chew mint-scented gum in order to conceal its aroma from themselves and other people; furthermore they could even steal items around the house to fund their drug addiction.
Short-term clues include memory problems that could be the result of marijuana use. They might also develop a “smoker’s cough” or difficulty breathing. Furthermore, they might lose interest in activities or hobbies they once enjoyed such as sports, school clubs or garage bands.
Keep an eye out for any paraphernalia that might indicate drug use, including empty syringes. If any such items come to light in your home, discuss them openly with your teen in a nonjudgmental way to encourage safe disclosures in the future; this will serve as an invaluable way of helping ensure they stay healthy and safe.
5. They’re avoiding their friends
If your child begins withdrawing from friends suddenly, this may be a telltale sign they’re engaging in illicit drugs like marijuana or alcohol. Both can inhibit emotional development completely; meaning they lack the tools necessary for healthy relationships or making rational decisions.
Parents need to pay close attention when their child avoids social situations and begins using drugs as a coping mechanism, so it is crucial for them to monitor how their friends interact, listen carefully for any mention of drugs or alcohol and observe any instances when their interactions could become disruptive.
An early indicator is if your child starts associating with new groups of friends. Teenagers usually gravitate toward those who share similar interests; therefore, if your kid begins hanging out with strangers it could be worth exploring further.
Your family should also keep an eye out for any suspicious items in their home, such as tin boxes or roll-ups. If these objects are found, have a chat with your child to discover their purpose.
Monitoring your teen’s social media is also wise. If they post anything that raises a red flag, speak with them about it calmly but firmly – avoid accusatory language as this will likely prompt more defensiveness from them.
If your concerns persist, getting a drug test kit to check for evidence of drug use might be necessary. But taking such steps shouldn’t be taken lightly as this could damage your relationship and make them feel like you don’t trust them; therefore it would be prudent to explore all other possible approaches before compelling your child to undergo one.
