This summer,
thousands of university and college students up and down the country will be
returning home following the end of another academic year – an exciting
prospect for many parents whose children have ‘flown the nest’.
It’s undoubtedly
that moving away from home opens a number of doors to young people, introducing
them to new friends, hobbies and – most notably – unprecedented levels of
freedom. But, although the infamous uni lifestyle is relatively harmless, it’s
pretty safe to assume that most higher education students will, at some point,
be introduced to illegal drugs or substances of some form. Indeed, polls
conducted by UK-wide university publication The Tab shows that the majority of
students report trying drugs.
With this in
mind, it’s important to keep a subtle eye out for any signs of addiction among
your children – especially ones who are returning home following their first
year away. Because of this reason many rehab centers are arranging drug detoxification programs in summer.
Here are some tips on spotting the early signs of substance abuse.
“Adolescents
slip into addiction to deal with stress or to be “accepted” by a “cool group.
So, it is important to talk to your kids to understand what is going on in
their lives…helping them sort out feelings and fostering an environment where
they turn to you first for help in solving a problem.”
- Behavioral and mood issues
Substance
abuse in young adults can often result in changes in social interactions, mood
changes, problems with work and an increase in risky behavior or mood swings.
“The changes in social interactions are very noticeable. If your extroverted
child suddenly now keeps more to himself/herself and avoids eye contact, it should
be a concern. If he or she is now sullen, irritable or depressed, then it could
be a warning sign.” Also, any drastic deterioration in your child’s academic
performance should be explored.
- Unkempt appearance
Ok, so we
all know that students aren’t necessarily the most well turned-presented
people, but if your child’s appearance actually causes you to do a double-take,
then there might be something going on.
“If he or
she has become careless about their clothing, has an unkempt appearance and has
a perennially runny nose, you should think about having a conversation.”
While it can
be difficult to mentally accept the fact that your child is taking on the
appearance of an addict, it is important to address changes in appearance,
especially red or glassy eyes, unexplained marks on arms or legs (long sleeves
in warm weather to hide marks), and continuous scratching or picking of face
and arms.
- Avoiding Old Friends
As children
evolve into adults, find new hobbies and spend time away from home, it’s
inevitable that they will find new friends. However, it’s a good sign if they
connect with their high school friends when they are back for summer, while a
search for new friends when back home may suggest a problem.
“If an
addiction is consuming your child’s life, they may avoid their high school
friends when they come back home, as they no longer affirm your child’s new
lifestyle.”
- Lack Of Interest
Again, it’s
natural for children to return home with new hobbies and interests, but keep an
eye on them if they now totally shun something they previously enjoyed.
“If you find
that your child no longer enjoys their usual activities, it may be that he or
she has become pre-occupied with obtaining and using drugs or alcohol and it is
taking over all aspects of their life.”
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- Change in eating habits
Parents (who
generally take on the role of ‘the hand that feeds’) tend to notice this effect
of addiction fairly quickly. Depending on the substance in question, your child
can experience an array of new food habits, including binge eating, also known
as the ‘munchies’, or a decrease in appetite.
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visit: Methadone Detox treatment in New Jersey, suboxone treatment in new
jersey
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