Should You Be Concerned? Signs of Teen Drug Abuse
Experimentation with drugs in adolescents is quite common, but there is cause for concern. Many teens who do use drugs in their early teen years are likely to become addicted to them when they enter into adulthood and subsequently spend time in a drug rehab or much worse. Since the brain is not fully formed as a teenager, addiction can happen quickly, thus leaving your teen in danger.
It is important that you take the time to learn what teen drug abuse looks like and what to do. You may just be saving your child’s life. Below, we will go over what to look for and help you identify the signs that indicate there may be a problem.
Signs to Watch For Before You Need to Book into Drug Rehab;
While your teen may try to hide the fact the he or she is experimenting with drugs, continued drug use will eventually show symptoms and there will be warning signs. Some of the most common signs to look out for include:
- Intense feelings of hunger
- Poor grades in school or poor performance in extracurricular activities
- Irritability and anger
- Lethargy and tiredness
- Loss of interest in activities that were once stimulating to the teen
- Decline in the way your teen cares for himself or herself
- Hanging out with known dealers or teens who experiment and use drugs