Parents are constantly concerned about the welfare of their children. During the age of traumatic bullying, pressures to conform and the general struggles of life, children are more susceptible to abusing illegal substances.
Familiarise yourself with the telltale signs that your child is engaging in narcotics. Listen to your instincts; better safe than sorry.
1. Be ‘Scent’sitive
As a parent, there is a line between being overbearing and concerned. Have a face-to-face conversation with your child on a daily basis, especially after they have a night out with their friends. If your child has been drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or smoking marijuana, the smell will be on their breath, clothing and hair.
2. Be In’sight’ful
Pay attention to their eyes – red and heavy lidded, with dilated pupils, is a clear sign your child is using marijuana. Marijuana is also commonly referred to as a ‘gateway drug’, making its abusers more susceptible to abuse other illicit drugs like cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens or methamphetamines.
3. Behaviour changes
Is your child loud or does he or she laugh hysterically to the point of being obnoxious? Is he unusually clumsy, stumbling into furniture and walls, tripping over his own feet and knocking things over? Is he sullen, withdrawn, and unusually tired after a night of sleep? Does he have sudden outburst or even aggressive reactions? These are all signs that he could have just been using some kind of illegal substance: alcohol, marijuana, or other narcotics.
4. Fluctuating eating habits
On the condition of the type of drug being used, a drastic change in appetite is a clue of drug or alcohol abuse. One of the effects of marijuana is hunger, also known as ‘the munchies’. The abuse of other drugs can also lead to weight loss.
5. Hygiene matters
Does your child often miss taking a shower or does not clean up their room on a regular basis? Their lack of personal hygiene is generally a red flag.
6. Monitor driving and the car
Is there a new dent in the car and they claim no knowledge about it? Their car can offer many clues. Examine the inside of the car too. Does it smell like marijuana smoke or alcohol fumes? Are there any bottles, pipes, bongs, or other drug paraphernalia rolling around on the floor? If you find anything, confront your child immediately: be forthright, and tell them exactly what you’ve discovered and why you’re concerned.
7. Keep an eye out for deceit or secretiveness
Are their weekend plans starting to sound a little fishy? Are they being vague concerning their whereabouts, arriving home past their curfew or estimated time, and a seemingly endless string of excuses to justify their behaviour? When excuses fail, they will respond to your inquiries and concern by telling you that it’s none of your business. Something is wrong, and you need to figure out what they are really up to.
