Warning Signs That Your Teen Is Using Drugs At Home

Learning how to spot the signs of drug use in your home is one of the most important precautionary steps a parent can take in the ever present threat of teenage drug use. Due to its secretive nature and illegal status, drug abuse is similar to a secret society with its own set of rituals, customs and dedicated vocabulary. If your child begins to start using dangerous and illegal substances, they will go to great lengths to hide this secretive knowledge about their underground culture from you. Educating yourself on exactly how to spot the warning signs of drug use and cracking the secret lingo can help you regain the authority in your house. Understanding what substances your teenager might be abusing will help determine which drug testing kit you should use regularly in your home to prevent the continuation of drug experimentation and addiction.

The intense behavioral effects of drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine or prescription pills can cause a normally honest and upright child to lie, deceive and manipulate in the name of drugs. As a parent, you have a potent tool at your disposal when it comes to spotting these changes in behavior; your natural parental instinct. Nobody knows your teen better than yourself, so trust your instincts if you begin to notice erratic behavior and subtle mood swings. Paying attention to the small details is crucial when looking for the signs of drug use in your home. Each different drug causes the body to react differently, so it is vital to understand which drugs cause which effects.

Marijuana

Marijuana is the most widely abused and accepted illegal substance being used by teenagers. Other slang terms for marijuana include pot, weed, chronic, shwag, herb, green, trees, dank just to name a few. Pot drug slang comes and goes constantly so just be on the listen for unusual conversations regarding gardening or the outdoors. Marijuana is most commonly smoked, so be aware of a sudden over dousing of cologne or air fresheners, the presence of lighters and the appearance of smoking utensils such as pipes or cigarette papers. Behavior symptoms also include excessive hunger, laziness, fatigue, disinterest, disorientation, incoherent speech or sudden laughter. Physical signs of marijuana use include bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, delayed reactions and a loss of coordination. The most common excuse for these behaviors is “I’m just tired” often followed by an attempt to leave the room or changing of the conversation. If your teen exhibits these behaviors frequently, a home urine drug test or hair follicle drug test will be your best chance at accurately determining if they are using marijuana. A urine test can detect traces of pot use up to one month after the last use while a hair follicle test can establish drug use up to 3 months after the last consumption.

Cocaine and Methamphetamine

Cocaine and Methamphetamine are stimulant powders which are usually snorted although they can also be smoked. These two drugs are seeing surging rates in young adult consumption. These drugs are similar in their physical appearance (powders), drug ingestion method (nasal), and physical effects on an individual. However, understanding and spotting their differences will help you determine which home drug test to use. Slang terms for cocaine include coke, yayo (yay-yo), yak, snow, candy and various nose references. Methamphetamine is commonly referred to as ice, tweak, meth or glass. Physical indicators of stimulant use include hyperactivity, restlessness, dilated pupils, fidgeting and unexplained sniffing or wiping of the nose or face. These warning signs are involuntary and cannot be controlled due to the stimulants surge of serotonin and dopamine. An observant parent can rely on these involuntary “upper” reactions as the warning signs for spotting drug use in the home. A urine home drug testing kit or hair follicle test at the first signals of drug usage will help uncover whether your teen is using these powders, but testing must occur quickly as traces of cocaine and methamphetamines will be removed from the body within a few days after drug ingestion.

Other General Drug Warning Indicators

There are many more drugs being abused by teenagers besides marijuana and cocaine and these include everything from prescription pills like Vicodin, Percocet, Ritalin, Adderall, Xanax, and Valium to hallucinogens such as ecstasy and acid. The good news as a parent is that most drugs fall under the categories of depressants, stimulants or hallucinogens and each classification has standard physical reactions and symptoms that are simple to recognize with some subtle observations mentioned above. General warning signs of home drug use a parent should be on the lookout for include money or small valuables disappearing, a sudden and frequent request for cash, or perhaps a new and questionable group of friends starting to hang around during odd times of the day. When a teen suddenly starts staying out most of the night, or does not come home until the morning, it is likely that they are experimenting with drugs or alcohol. School wise, failing grades, inexplicable lack of interest and multiple unexcused absences are all indicators that drug use has begun effecting with your teen’s everyday life. By learning how to spot and recognize these early signs of drug use in your home, you can regain control and power over the situation by implementing a strong, consistent and effective home drug testing program with your children.

By: Frank Shepard

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Frank Shepard is a leading writer on drug testing and a valuable source of information about home drug tests.