Learning to spot the signs of drug use in your home is one of the most important precautionary steps a parent can take in the face of the ever-present threat of teen drug use. Due to its secretive nature and illegal status, drug abuse is similar to a secret society with its own set of rituals, customs, and dedicated vocabulary. If your son starts using dangerous and illegal substances, he will do everything possible to hide this secret knowledge about his underground culture from you. Educating yourself on exactly how to spot the warning signs of drug use and decipher secret lingo can help you regain authority in your home. Understanding what substances your teen might be abusing will help determine which drug test kit he or she should use regularly at home to prevent continued drug experimentation and addiction.
The intense behavioral effects of drugs such as marijuana, ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine, or prescription pills can cause a normally honest and upright child to lie, cheat, and manipulate in the name of drugs. As a parent, you have a powerful tool at your disposal when it comes to detecting these changes in behavior; your natural parental instinct. No one knows your teen better than you do, so trust her instincts if you start to notice erratic behavior and subtle mood swings. Paying attention to small details is crucial when looking for signs of drug use in your home. Each different drug causes the body to react differently, so it is vital to understand which drugs cause which effects.
Marijuana
Marijuana is the most widely abused and accepted illegal substance by adolescents. Other slang terms for marijuana include pot, weed, chronic, shwag, herb, green, trees, dank, just to name a few. Marijuana slang comes and goes all the time, so keep an eye out for unusual conversations about gardening or outdoor activities. Marijuana is most often smoked, so be on the lookout for a sudden spray of cologne or air fresheners, the presence of lighters, and the appearance of smoking utensils such as pipes or cigarette papers. Behavioral symptoms also include excessive hunger, laziness, fatigue, disinterest, disorientation, slurred speech, or sudden laughter.
Physical signs of marijuana use include bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, delayed reactions, and loss of coordination. The most common excuse for these behaviors is “I’m tired,” often followed by an attempt to leave the room or change the conversation. If your teen exhibits these behaviors frequently, a home urine drug test or hair follicle drug test will be your best chance to accurately determine if she is using marijuana. A urine test can detect traces of marijuana use up to a month after last use, while a hair follicle test can establish drug use up to 3 months after last use.
Cocaine and Methamphetamine
Cocaine and methamphetamine are stimulant powders that are often snorted but can also be smoked. Both of these drugs are experiencing increasing rates of use by young adults. These drugs are similar in their physical appearance (powders), drug ingestion method (nasal), and physical effects on an individual. However, understanding and spotting their differences will help you determine which home drug test to use. Slang terms for cocaine include coke, yayo (yay-yo), yak, snow, candy, and various references to the nose.
Methamphetamine is commonly known as ice, tweak, methamphetamine, or glass. Physical indicators of stimulant use include hyperactivity, restlessness, dilated pupils, restlessness, and unexplained sniffing or wiping of the nose or face. These warning signs are involuntary and cannot be controlled due to the stimulating surge of serotonin and dopamine. An observant parent can rely on these involuntary “superior” reactions as warning signs to spot drug use in the home. A home urine drug test kit or hair follicle test at the first signs of drug use will help discover if your teen is using these powders, but tests must be done quickly as traces of cocaine and methamphetamine they will be eliminated from the body a few days later. drug ingestion
Other general drug warning indicators
Teens abuse many more drugs besides marijuana and cocaine, and these include everything from prescription pills like Vicodin, Percocet, Ritalin, Adderall, Xanax, and Valium to hallucinogens like ecstasy and acid. The good news as a parent is that most drugs fall into the categories of depressants, stimulants, or hallucinogens, and each classification has standard physical symptoms and reactions that are easy to recognize with a few subtle observations mentioned above.
General warning signs of drug use in the home that a parent should be aware of include the disappearance of money or small valuables, a sudden and frequent request for cash, or perhaps a questionable new set of friends. who start hanging out at odd times of the day. When a teen suddenly starts staying out most of the night or doesn’t come home until morning, it’s likely that he or she is experimenting with drugs or alcohol. When it comes to school, poor grades, unexplained lack of interest, and multiple unexcused absences are all indicators that drug use has begun to affect your teen’s daily life. By learning to spot and recognize these early signs of drug use in your home, you can regain control and power over the situation by implementing a strong, consistent, and effective home drug testing program with your children.