Your child is one of the most important aspects of your life. While you may want to hold on to him or her for as long as possible, you likely understood the distance that would come when the teenage years rolled around. Still, you made the effort to remain aware of the goings-on in your child’s life as best as possible.
Because of your dutifulness as a parent and the love you have for your child, you may have noticed when he or she began to act out of character, even more so than just teenage attitude and mood swings. As a result, you may have begun to feel great concern and wondered whether drugs had somehow made their way into your child’s life.
Have you noticed signs?
Many signs could point to potential drug use with your child. Of course, these signs could also mirror symptoms of other conditions or issues, which is why communicating with your child plays an important role when it comes to addressing problems. Nonetheless, if you notice any of the following signs, your concerns about drug use may be valid:
- Appetite changes, either signs of no appetite or considerable hunger
- Developing behavioral issues while at school or at home
- Changes in weight
- Wearing long sleeves in warm weather or other inappropriate clothing choices
- Decline in previous academic success
- Skipping classes or school entirely
- Continual coughing
- Runny nose
- Lack of interests in activities he or she used to enjoy
- Stealing or other serious acts
You may think that because your child is still in high school or possibly early college that he or she could not have access to drugs and is simply adjusting to life changes. However, it may interest you to know that millions of students, even those at middle school ages, have access to drugs on campuses.
Have you been contacted by police?
Unfortunately, you may not have the chance to pinpoint and act on your suspicions of drug use before your teen ends up facing serious criminal charges for drug-related offenses. If you have been contacted by police about charges against your child, you may find it in your child’s best interests to speak with an attorney about defense options. Even if the court still considers your child a juvenile, consequences associated with a drug conviction could still prove detrimental.
