There are many joys to being a parent to a teenager, but there are also a lot of worries. As teenagers begin to make their way in the world, they're also discovering themselves. Sometimes, however, they discover things they find enjoyable, but these are things that they should never gotten involved in. This is where problems set in.
According to Dr Indra Cidambi, of the Center for Network Therapy, parents should be able to recognize when something is wrong with their teenagers; particularly when they have gotten addicted to any substance. Cidambi is a recognized expert and pioneer in the field of Addiction Medicine.
According to Cidambi, parents should ensure that they do not allow their teenagers to have too much unsupervised time outside the home or even inside it. She said that when teenagers have too much unsupervised time such as when it's vacation season, they sometimes end up being adventurous and try drinking, smoking, or worse, taking drugs. The breaks from school is a good time to keep a closer eye on the behavior of teenagers and determine if there are any serious changes in behavior that could point towards an addiction or substance abuse.
Based on her experience treating and providing help to persons with problems of substance use disorders, Cidambi said that people with addictions usually start off experimenting. Some began using marijuana as early as age 13. Parents often attribute changes in the behavior of their children - their habits and way of talking and acting - to growing pains. In some cases, the more disturbing and sudden changes are actually due to addiction.
Parents, Cidami said, should be alert to the five common changes brought on by substance abuse.
Among the first signs that something negative may be happening to a teenager is when they change friends. If and when a teenager develops an addiction, they tend to find new friends who also share the addiction. Their old friends who want nothing to do with it tend to drift away and disappear. If a parent sees their child hanging out with people who are new, they should find a casual way to ask their teens about the new friends and express willingness to talk about whatever the teenager might be feeling.
Mood swings are also a sign, as well as problems in school work. Changes in behavior in a usually communicative and open child are easy to spot: if your teenager suddenly locks themselves in their rooms more often and longer than usual, they may be undergoing something If they also begin showing signs of aggression, irritability, rudeness or depression, then there's a possibility that they may be taking something they shouldn't.
Other signs to watch out for in a teenager are changes in appearance (if they become unkempt when before they were neat); when they look too tired or unhealthy when previously they did not; and when they have unexplained marks on their arms and legs (which they will tend to hide under sweaters or long-sleeved shirts).
Another unmistakable sign is a change in appetite. According to Cidambi, the changes will depend on which substance the teenager may be using. When a teenager begins using, they may binge-eat, or not eat at all. This will have potentially negative effects on the teen's health and nutrition, and should be addressed immediately.
In the end, Cidambi said, the parents of teenagers should always make time for their children and strive to maintain friendly, open, and respectful lines of communication. A parent's presence is very important to keep teenagers from falling victim to substance abuse.
