Addiction is one of the hardest things that a person can face, but it is also more common than you might think. Addiction can show its face in many different ways, and when it does, it will affect every aspect of a person’s life, as well as those around them. One of the hardest addictions is that of substance abuse. If a person is taking drugs, it can be hard for them to accept the reality of their condition. Sometimes it takes an intervention or even paying for drug rehab to help a person that you love. If you are concerned that your child may be suffering from addiction, there are certain telltale signs that can help you to know.
Mood Changes
When addiction is starting to control a person’s life, it will soon become evident in their mood and personality. A usually bright and bubbly person may become withdrawn or frequently angry. You might ask them about their habit and they will respond angrily or become defensive. This is a sure sign that someone is suffering from an addiction.
Quantity
Another strong sign that someone is addicted is to look at how much time they devote to their habit, as well as the volume of their intake. The more a person uses something, the more of it they will need to satisfy their cravings. If the problem is prescription drugs, they may frequently run out, or claim to have lost them, requesting more.
Dishonesty
If the addiction is to illegal drugs, you will probably never see them using, but you can look for signs such as dishonesty. Lying is a very common side effect of an addiction, as they try to cover up their dependency. They may also develop a habit of stealing in order to pay for their addiction. If you start to notice money missing from your wallet, or your child frequently asked for more, you may want to look into why.
Weight Loss
A lot of drugs can have an effect on a person’s weight, often causing them to lose weight dramatically.
Isolation
A drug addict can also start to become withdrawn and increasingly isolated. If your child is spending a lot of time locked away in their room, or staying away from social situations, this can be another indication of drug abuse.
Changes in Sleep
Often an addictive habit, especially drugs, will have an effect on a person’s sleep patterns, causing them to sleep more or less than usual. Any disruption to a regular sleep pattern can be a sign of a problem. Perhaps they are not sleeping at night, but sleep a lot during the day. Do not jump to conclusions though – if your teenager stays up late and sleeps until the afternoon, it is hardly unusual!
These are just a few signs that can help you to know if your child is suffering from drug addiction. Just one of these is not usually a cause for concern, but try to use your intuition as a parent. If your child’s personality or habits have altered dramatically, you may have cause for concern. Try talking to your child before seeking further help. Staging an intervention can be difficult, but necessary in order to help your child. The worst action that you can take is no action, so do what you can as soon as you can, before it is too late.
About the Author: Hyrum Taffer is a freelance writer and with a great deal of experience in drug addiction/recovery. Through much personal experience and a lot of assistance with DrugRehab.org, Hyrum hopes others can benefit from his writing.
I agree with a lot of what is said here. Probably the biggest thing I have noticed with young people who abuse drugs and alcohol is the dishonesty. Anything that comes out of their mouth is basically a lie. It only gets worse for addicts and alcoholics. They start to believe their own lies after a while.