| Borrowing a sports analogy, the best defense against | | | | they need money they refuse to answer, or become |
| teenage drug use is a good offense. | | | | indignant, that is an indicator of possible drug abuse. |
| Parents need to equip themselves with solid | | | | Worse yet, they may steal items from home to buy |
| information about teen drug addiction , a realistic view | | | | drugs. |
| of their child and access to professional help if there | | | | Communication is Essential |
| are any early warning signs of drug use and find a | | | | Communicating with teens can be a challenge, |
| good drug rehab. | | | | especially because they are beginning to spread their |
| Warning Signs of Teen Drug Addiction: | | | | wings and desire independence from mom and dad. |
| School: Is your child keeping up with his/her school | | | | Stay calm. |
| work? Have they lost interest in going to school and | | | | The most common mistake parents can make is trying |
| look for excuses to stay home? Call the school and | | | | to force ideas and values on the defiant teenaged |
| keep track of your child’s attendance in class. I | | | | mind. |
| coach football and basketball for middle school and | | | | I was that way. There's a leadership responsibility that |
| high school. I get attendance records and if a teen has | | | | always needs to be in evidence, and parents need to |
| missed class, they don’t play in the games. | | | | be parents. Trying to be “best buddies” is not a |
| But do you know your child skipped second period | | | | good strategy. However, parents need to meet their |
| math class? | | | | children where they are at. That means trying to |
| Are there days when you think your child has gone to | | | | understand the situation from your child’s |
| school, but the attendance records do not match up? | | | | perspective. |
| Children who are in trouble with drugs will often begin | | | | Teenagers will probably come up with some very |
| failing classes, not turning in homework assignments or | | | | wrong reasoning, seriously flawed ideas and their |
| in general just fall behind. “I can’t believe Johnny | | | | whole world view will likely be counter to that of their |
| is failing math, it was always his favorite subject.” A | | | | parents. But they have a NEED to be heard and |
| new pattern has emerged and it isn’t pretty. | | | | respected. |
| Schools have open campuses, allowing kids to come | | | | It’s one thing to accept an opinion counter to your |
| and go. They can easily slip into the community and | | | | own, and it’s quite another to approve of it. Try |
| get into trouble. | | | | working with your teen’s ideas and concepts, and |
| Health: As a person slips into teen drug addiction a | | | | have an open and non-threatening discussion about |
| variety of physical signs point to drug abuse. Are they | | | | them. You can establish rules of engagement with |
| listless all of the time? Kids don’t want to get up in | | | | your teen and agree that both of you are allowed to |
| the morning anyway, but they don’t always refuse | | | | express ideas and opinions without fear of retribution. |
| to get moving. Weight loss and weight gain are signs. | | | | The key is to remember that the parent needs to be |
| Are there changes in eating habits? The eyes are an | | | | the one in control. As a chaplain, I do a lot of counseling |
| indicator. Has the life gone out of their eyes, or is there | | | | work and my approach is entirely patient-centered. |
| a major change? | | | | They establish the themes of the conversation, but |
| Appearance: This can be a difficult area to discern, as | | | | even though I am not deciding the topic, or necessarily |
| fashions change and often times what adults feel is | | | | directing the conversation, I am still in control. |
| acceptable dress may not have anything to do with | | | | Remember that your teenager, like a patient in a |
| current trends. Watch for changes in dress. | | | | hospital, is probably going to be very myopic. He/she |
| Does a child lose interest in how they look? Kids want | | | | will see things only from their perspective. |
| to fit in and there is peer pressure influence on the | | | | Take a step back and see the entire situation. Go with |
| way they dress. Girls, especially, are bombarded with | | | | their feelings, their concerns and walk down their path. |
| images on appearance. Has there been an attitude | | | | Share the experience. |
| shift? Have grooming habits changed? | | | | Parents are the front line of the fight against teen drug |
| Attitude and Behavior: As children enter their teen | | | | addiction. Don’t push that responsibility off to the |
| years it is natural for them to want to break away | | | | schools. Rather, partner with the school counselors, |
| from the family. When kids go to extremes to make | | | | teachers and administrators, never forgetting that you |
| sure you don’t know who they’re with or what | | | | are the one responsible for your teen. If drug abuse or |
| they are doing, the red flag should go up. When they | | | | addiction enters your home, seek professional help and |
| become secretive and guarded, when their privacy at | | | | form another partnership in the effort. |
| home prevents your open access to them, look for | | | | Be in control. Be honest. Be alert. Be proactive. |
| something beyond mere adolescent rebellion. | | | | Have you ever wondered WHY your teens are more |
| Money can be a sign. If their only interaction with the | | | | susceptible to drug abuse and addiction? Teenage |
| parents is to ask for money, and when asked why | | | | drug abuse is common; read why... |