Raising a teen is perhaps one of the most challenging phases of parenthood, particularly with the increased rates of drug experimentation and alcohol abuse.

What may be even more challenging, however, is knowing and understanding the signs that could indicate drug and/or alcohol use in teens and assimilating that information so as to come to the proper conclusion.

“There are so many different substances that can be used to get high,” begins a spokesperson for Mountainside Drug Rehaband Alcohol Treatment Center . “Ordinary over-the-counter cough and cold medications, as well as simple motion sickness prevention medicines, are routinely being used to get high. With so many different substances being used it can be difficult to know the various symptoms that these chemicals cause and how to react accordingly. There are, however, tell-tale signs that should send up red flags of warning for parents. If parents begin noticing that their child is more moody than usual or begins to withdraw from family or other normal activities, they should begin to look for other signs such as poor work performance in school or a job, as well as decrease in personal hygiene. These are some of the more common signs exhibited by teens who are using drugs and alcohol. Many times parents will just have a gut-feeling, with no real solid evidence to base those feelings on. We highly encourage parents to go with those gut-feelings and use them to be pro-active in finding out if their child has a problem with drugs or alcohol. Obviously, sometimes the gut feeling will be wrong: the good news is that a child has never died from a parent addressing a gut-feeling; on the other hand, children are dying more and more from the abuse of alcohol and drugs.”

While one particular sign of drug use may be present, it doesn’t mean that abuse is occurring. It takes a combination of factors as well as good, solid instinct to be able to intervene and help a child to avoid drug and/or alcohol abuse.

Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center is highly skilled in assisting families to put their lives back together when affected by alcohol or drug use. And, for the past 13 years, Mountainside has established itself as an innovator within the addiction treatment field, and the treatment modalities Mountainside utilizes are regarded as among the most cutting-edge approaches in helping individuals to get and to remain sober.

Via EPR Network
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