Signs of drug and alcohol abuse in teenagers

A large number of the total number of world population is under substance abuse. Since, most of the populations under substance abuse are teenagers; it has become the need of the time that parents, must get educated and made aware of the signs and symptoms and also about the adverse effects and treatment options available for treating the substance abuse of drugs and alcohol in teenagers. The more the parents get educated; there are greater chances of saving the teenager from progressing into a full-blown addiction. Therefore, given below are some signs of drug and alcohol abuse in teenagers that will make the parents identify substance abuse in their teenager and help them to quickly intervene and seek medical help for their teenager with substance abuse.

There are many physical signs of drug and alcohol abuse in teenagers, but these signs need to be carefully studied, as they may also indicate other problem. Some of the physical signs are slurred speech or talking excessively and rapidly. Teenager with substance abuse also experience change in the sleep patterns, either sleeping too much or sleeping very little. The most immediate signs of drug and alcohol abuse in teenagers are seen in their eyes that become red, watery or the pupils appear larger or smaller than usual. These teenagers also show signs of walking impaired, staggered or walk very slowly.

The teenagers with substance abuse become poor at coordinating things and also drop things and become clumsy. Parents may see skin injuries on their teenagers with unusual bruises, abrasions, rashes and also needle marks. These teenagers may also eat unusually with signs of sudden weight gain or weight loss.

Along with physical signs of drug and alcohol abuse in teenagers, there are also certain behavioral signs that parents must look out for in their teenagers. The teenagers influenced under substance abuse become very depressed and indulge in lying and secretive behavior. They may also miss out schools regularly with declining school grades.

It is the must for the parents to talk with their teenager, seek a professional help, if they notice any of the above signs, and plan a treatment program for your child, in order to save their child from habit of substance abuse.