Substance Abuse Problems With Teen Son

As parents, it can often feel as though substance abuse problems are issues that other parents and their teens struggle with. It’s easy to slip into a pattern of thinking that this is simply something that won’t happen to your teen or to your family. Substance use and abuse can touch every one of our lives, in one shape or form. It could be very clear that your teen is struggling with addiction from a very early stage, or maybe he’s exceptionally good at hiding it until it reaches a serious tipping point. Do you know the signs of addiction? Do you know what steps to take if you find that your teen has a substance abuse problem?

Signs of Teen Drug Addiction 

One of the most important things that you can do for your teen is to learn the signs of drug addiction. Some may be quite obvious, while others could be more on the subtle side. While there are some common signs to be aware of, it is worth mentioning that the signs of drug abuse in your teen may look drastically different from what his closest friend is displaying. Some signs that you could see in your teen may include physical and behavioral changes and could include the following.

• Changes in performance at school, including poor grades and attendance issues.
• Changes in personality, including talking to himself, laughing without cause, and crying without apparent cause.
• Losing interest in spending time with his usual group of friends and no interest in activities that he once enjoyed.
• Spending time with new friends, who perhaps seem to lead him down the wrong path.
• Increased aggression towards others, even to family members.
• Withdrawing from family, family activities, and wanting to spend more time alone.
• Bloodshot eyes, sores in his mouth, unusual damage to his teeth, and other physical changes.
• A lack of good hygiene, or perhaps an increase in showers in an attempt not to smell like smoke or other substances.
• Out of character and secretive behavior. 
•  Avoiding eye contact and trying to avoid conversations or answering even direct questions. 
• Skipping class, missing curfew, or sneaking out.

You may also find assorted drug paraphernalia in his backpack, jeans, or his bedroom. Perhaps you’ve spotted empty liquor bottles in the trash that don’t belong to you. Whatever the signs are, trust your instincts if you feel like something is amiss.

Resources for Parents

Finding out that your teen son is using drugs can be all at once overwhelming and confusing. What should your next step be to get your teen the help that he needs? Where do parents turn to first?

•  Educate yourself on the type of drugs that you suspect your teen is abusing and also do a bit of research into the connection between substance abuse and mental health.
• Do a bit of reading about the connection between drug abuse in teens and the risks of drug addiction in adults. This can help to fortify you when you’re struggling with a teen who is insistent that his drug use isn’t an issue.
• Visit this website to learn more about the government resources that are available to you. This includes details about the risks that accompany the use of opioids and mental health concerns.

The more time that you spend learning more about addiction and options for recovery, the better position you will be in to help your teen in how he truly needs. Education can also empower you with the knowledge you will need as you move forward to find the right type of treatment solutions.

Residential treatment center for teen drug addiction

Whether your teen is weeks, months, or years into drug addiction, there is no time to delay in getting him the right type of help. Outpatient therapy can certainly help to address some of the mental health struggles that he has, but it won’t be as effective at helping your teen work through the other phases of his addiction. A residential treatment center will offer your teen a fresh start in a structured and supportive environment. Here he will get a treatment plan that is customized to meet his needs and he will get the right type of support from mental health professionals every step of the way. Residential treatment centers also offer teens the ability to break out of their routines by exploring new activities or by making new friends who have gone through similar experiences. Sending your teen to a residential treatment center can be a hard decision for a parent to make. Quite often, we are inclined to want to handle these types of issues at home, on our own. But with substance abuse, your teen will be better served getting the treatment he needs in a setting that takes him away from the familiar.

Help is Available 

Is your teen struggling with substance abuse? Addiction to drugs and alcohol can be a serious and even life-threatening concern for teens. Getting your teen the right type of help is an essential part of ensuring he gets sober and back on track to a bright and healthy future.  At Liahona Academy, our team of professionals has the training and experience needed to help your teen work through substance abuse and the mental wellness concerns that he may also struggle with.