As a teen counselor, I know that alcohol and drug abuse are almost an epidemic among teenagers and, often, parents feel helpless to do anything but stick them into a drug or alcohol detox center and wait for the cycle to repeat. As a parent myself, I understand the need to want to jump in and solve the problem; but with drug and alcohol abuse. As suggested in www.cleanremedies.com, it often takes more than just a parent’s love and understanding to help a child climb out of the hole of addiction. According to this imp source, teen counseling, administered by an experienced counselor is one of the most important steps a parent can take. The first step to take, though, is to look for the signs and symptoms of drug or alcohol abuse. If there is a DUI after alcohol abuse, and you want to know what should I do after DUI, you can click here to get your answers.
Changes In Personal Appearance That Include:
- Lack of personal hygiene
- Looks unkempt or messy
- Red, flushed cheeks or face
- Needle or track marks on arms (or arms covered to the wrists even in warm weather)
- Burns or soot on lips or fingertips
New Or Worsening Health Problems That Include:
- Nose bleeds or a runny nose not caused by allergies or a cold
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent illnesses with vomiting
- Seizures
- Depression
- Dramatic or sudden weight loss or gain
New Behavioral Issues Or Personal Habits That Include:
- Change in relationships with friends or family members
- Hostility and anger
- Lack of motivation
- Secretiveness
- Periods of sleeplessness or high energy
- Silent or uncommunicative
- Slurred or unintelligible speech
- Inability to focus
- Frequent use of breath mints and OTC quartz banger to reduce red-eye and nasal irritation
- Reckless driving or frequent car accidents
- Cash flow problems
- Frequent curfew breaking
- Sudden food cravings (munchies)
- Avoiding eye contact
- Locking bedroom door
- Making secretive phone calls
- Loss of balance, clumsy or stumbling
- Loud or obnoxious behavior
School-Related Problems That Include:
- Frequent truancy and loss of interest in school
- Loss of interest in extracurricular activities
- Chronic failure to complete schoolwork
- Complaints from teachers about behavior
- Reports of intoxication at school
Suspicious Occurrences At Home That Include:
- OTC or prescription pills belonging to others go missing
- Money or valuables disappear
- A smell of marijuana or alcohol in the home or car
- Appearance of drug paraphernalia like rolling papers, medicine bottles, eye droppers, butane lighters and makeshift marijuana smoking devices
To find out more about the signs and symptoms of drug or alcohol abuse in your teenager or in anyone you love, visit the National Council On Alcoholism And Drug Dependence, Inc. or contact your family physician. If you suspect your child has an addiction problem, talk to him about therapy that can get his life back on track. To learn more about how teen counseling can help, call me at Insight Child & Family Counseling at (972) 426-9500 or visit www.j9n.83e.myftpupload.com.