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How to know if my son or daughter takes drugs: 10 keys to detect it

How to know if my son or daughter takes drugs: 10 keys to detect it

March 28, 2024

Adolescence and youth are difficult ages and full of changes, in which many adolescents and young people do things that they can regret later. During these ages, the perception of risk is lower and, therefore, many young people carry out many behaviors without being fully aware of their consequences.

Some of these behaviors include unprotected sex, reckless driving or drug use. If you are the father of a boy or girl of this age, in this article we will talk about this last point and we will go deeper into Signs that may indicate if your son or daughter uses drugs .

  • Article: "Types of drugs: know their characteristics and effects"

Adolescence: a stage of changes

People live a stage of change in adolescence and youth. Not only in terms of the development of sexual and reproductive functions, but also in terms of social status, since it is very important in these years.


Adolescents are born experimenters and it is easy for them to carry out risky behaviors without being aware of the consequences of their behavior, simply to improve their image. The egocentrism characteristic of this stage of life, as well as the importance and influence of friendships, are some of the reasons why they behave like this.

One of the most worrying phenomena of this age is the propensity to use drugs , which is, in many cases, recreational. Marijuana, cocaine, MDMA, among others, are psychoactive substances that can begin to be consumed at relatively early ages.

Although many young people live drug use as a simple life experience and later leave it, others remain hooked for the rest of their lives, which causes them serious problems in different areas of their lives (work, interpersonal relationships, etc.). ) and your health.


  • Related article: "The 10 most addictive drugs in the world"

How to detect if your child takes drugs

Drug use is one of the great concerns of parents, who they are the key figures in terms of preventing this behavior in their children . Logically, adolescents who take drugs will try to hide it.

If you are a father or mother and you want to know how to recognize the signs that warn that your son or daughter consumes these substances habitually, in the following lines you will find a list of keys and telltale signs.

1. How does it smell?

Some drugs such as marijuana or tobacco leave a strong odor in those who take them. Surely, if your child is a consumer, he will use a series of strategies to minimize the chances of being caught. Chewing gum, cleaning your hands repeatedly and even applying cologne in an exaggerated way are some examples of this.


However, there are always remnants of the smell, either in the hands where the cigar or joint is held, or in the clothes or hair, because if they smoke in a closed place it is easy for the smell to remain in these places. You can try to have a conversation with your son just when he gets home after being with his friends. You can also smell your child's clothes before putting them in the washing machine.

2. How is your eyes?

In the eyes it is possible to detect the consumption of drugs. But we must be clear that each drug has its effects and, therefore, there are several visible signs that can manifest in this part of the body.

Marijuana, for example, causes the eyes to redden and a look of drowsiness appears . In the case of drugs such as ecstasy, the eyes adopt what are known as "plate-shaped eyes", well rounded, open and with dilated pupils. Cocaine, on the other hand, also causes a form similar to that generated by this designer drug, but its effects are less exaggerated.

3. Do you have mood swings?

The drugs cause a very noticeable mood change in the people who consume them, especially when they are not drugged. This usually happens because the body is asking for the drug to be consumed again, and that's why they can be irritable, grumpy and even aggressive . In addition, the presence of parents makes the young people who consume much uncomfortable, preferring to spend time alone to do their own.

4. Are there medications in the kit?

Some young people do not consume a single drug, but experiment with various types of substances. For example, marijuana, cocaine and speed. But many of these young people can also stick their hands in the home medicine cabinet to try new sensations. Diazepam or cough medicines they are some drugs that they can consume. If you have noticed that some medicines that you had at home disappear, it is cause for concern.

5. Do you have unhealthy friendships?

Friends are very important socializing agents at this age, so if your child meets regular consumers, will have more chances of developing harmful habits . Therefore, it is necessary to pay attention to whether your child has developed unhealthy friendships, because it can be a clear indicator of what your child can do when they are with them.

6. Do other family members take drugs?

If other family members take drugs, children are also more likely to use psychoactive substances. Studies show that if the parents are consumers (for example, if the father is an alcoholic) the children can develop behaviors of this type.

Likewise, if the older brother or sister consumes, there is also a greater risk that the latter copied his negative behavior, since it is usually a model for the little brother.

7. Have you set aside your responsibilities?

The drug has a devastating effect on the person's life that they consume, and this includes their work or their studies. It is not always the case, but, especially in the case of hard drugs, it is possible that many young people leave aside their responsibilities to live a rather idle life . For example, bad grades or "bells" in high school can also be an indicator of your bad habits.

8. Do you have financial problems?

If your child works summers and you spend all your money but you do not know in what, Maybe the reason is drug use. The drug usually has a high cost, and people who use drugs often suffer financial problems. Substances like cocaine are especially expensive.

  • Related article: "Cocaine stripes: components, effects and dangers"

9. Do you show other behavior changes?

Different types of drugs have different effects. For example, some are relaxing and others are stimulating . However, you will probably know your son or daughter well, and if you notice changes in behavior that make you suspect, these substances may be behind it.

If you are always tired and lazy you may consume marijuana, if you talk in a strange way (for example, very fast) you may take amphetamines, if you spend two days without sleep you may use cocaine, and if you are very reserved and avoid being with the rest of the family may hide other types of habits of this kind.

  • Related article: "The 9 types of drug addiction and their characteristics"

10. Make a global assessment

Young people live a delicate stage of their lives, full of changes . Drug use is frequent at these ages, so parents should be alert because to prevent this behavior from having negative effects on their future.

The above points are signs that may indicate that your son or daughter has entered the world of drugs, but can not be assessed independently: the more previous points are met, the more likely it is that your child will be a consumer of drugs


Signs of child drug addiction: How to know if your kid / teenager is getting addicted to drugs? (March 2024).


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