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Danger in the Medicine Cabinet
Drug Addictions Don't Just Happen on the Street
By Tamekia Reece
- An abrupt change of behavior
- Lack of or increased appetite
- Staying home from school or other activities
- Neglecting hygiene or appearance
- Physical changes like red eyes or runny nose
- Track marks (bruises around injection sites)
- Itching or skin infections
- Sweating
- Acting angry
If you think your teen is taking prescription drugs for recreational purposes, here are a few things you should keep in mind:
1. Don't blame yourself. Even though it's easy to blame yourself and think that you could've done something differently, that's not always the case. "To be brutally honest, there was nothing in the world my parents could've said to stop me from experimenting," says Andi*, who as a teen experimented with amphetamines, LSD, marijuana and valiums. "At that stage in my life, the only people who could've stopped me were the peers I looked up to."
2. Don't accuse. If you don't know for sure your daughter is using drugs, don't accuse her. If you're mistaken, the bond you share will be broken. Once she feels she's lost your trust, her home life may become stressful, and she may then turn to drugs. If you suspect your teen is using any kind of drug, be watchful and know the signs and symptoms before you make accusations.
3. Don't expect your teen to automatically stop. For those of us who've never experimented with drugs, it's easy to look at the situation and say someone can stop if they really want to. This isn't so. Once a person's body has become used to a drug, an abrupt stop can lead to drastic withdrawal symptoms. So don't expect your teen to stop cold-turkey. It's best to get him into a treatment center where they're equipped to deal with withdrawal. It's the only option to help your teen to get and stay sober.