Drugs: notice these changes in your teen

School children who use alcohol or drugs are three times more likely to get involved in violent crimes.

Frighteningly the average age of drug dependency in South Africa is 12 years and dropping.

These are some of the things you should look out for in your teen:

Behavioural issues

These are usually pretty easy to pick up. Teens may show a marked change in their relationship with family members or friends, and start treating them with blatant disrespect or completely cutting out certain friends.

Other changes include a loss of inhibitions; mood changes or emotional instability; loud, obnoxious behaviour; laughing at nothing; unusually clumsy; stumbling; lack of coordination and poor balance; sullen, withdrawn and depressed; unusually tired; silent and uncommunicative; hostile, angry and uncooperative; and deceitful or secretive.

Changes in personal appearance

Most drug and alcohol use may cause some change in physical appearance. Few of these in isolation are definitive proof of teenage alcohol use or drug use, but may fit into a larger pattern of symptoms, or act as a way to open up a conversation with your teen.

You should check for messy, careless appearance; poor hygiene; track marks on arms or legs as well as burns or soot on fingers or lips, and red flushed cheeks or face.
A change in personal habits or actions.

Look for changes in your teenager’s behaviour or personal habits that might indicate drug or alcohol use. Look out for the smell of smoke on the breath or clothes; chewing gum or mints to cover up breath; heavy use of over-the-counter preparations to reduce eye reddening; nasal irritation or bad breath; frequently breaks curfew; and cash flow problems.

A change in health issues

Drug and alcohol use can have a number of effects on health minor to major.

Changes could include frequent nosebleeds; runny nose, not caused by allergies or a cold; frequent sickness; sores, spots around mouth; nausea; seizures and vomiting.

Other signs include sudden or dramatic weight loss that is associated with drugs like heroin, cocaine, meth and amphetamines. Depression; headaches and sweatiness also are worth noting.

Pay attention to school or work-related issues

Note how your teenager is doing at school. Any sudden change in how he or she is doing homework may be an indication of drug use.

Take note of what you’re hearing from teachers or school administrators.

Look out for truancy or loss of interest in schoolwork; a drop in grades; loss of interest in extracurricular activities, hobbies or sports; and a failure to fulfil responsibilities at school. There may be many reasons for this, but substance abuse is almost always accompanied by a decrease in motivation.

If you are at all worried that your teenager is displaying any of these symptoms, remember the first step is to ask your teenager whether there is a problem.

If your teenager has a drug problem you can contact any church councillor who will be happy to help or phone the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence’s (Sanca) toll free number 08614 SANCA (086 14 72622) or the head office at 011 892 3829.

Source: Time to Act