Teens are secretive by nature. It is their way of gaining independence at a time when hormones are racing and things can be confusing. Unfortunately, this secretive behavior creates an ideal situation for teenagers to develop, and eventually hide, an addiction to prescription medication. Parents need to learn the prescription drug abuse signs.
Learning prescription drug abuse signs and symptoms can help parents determine when their teenager may have an addiction. Once a parent determines their child may have an addiction, he or she can get their child the help they need to successfully overcome the addiction to prescription medication.
The following are some of the most common prescription drug abuse signs every parent should know.
Sudden, Unexplained Disappearance of Prescription Drugs
Prescription drug abuse is extremely common amongst teenagers because the drugs are so easy to obtain. All they have to do is go into their bathroom and take some of their parents’ prescription medication, which is often left unattended in the bathroom cupboard or cabinet.
Parents need to keep a close watch over their prescription medications. If, for some reason, the number of pills starts to decrease and the person who they are prescribed to isn’t taking them, it could be an early indicator that someone in the house is experimenting with prescription drugs.
Sudden Changes in Behavior
Teenagers are prone to mood swings and changes in behavior. However, the majority of the time these mood swings and changes don’t change who the teenager is as a person.
If a drug addiction is present, a teenager may have sudden, drastic changes in their behavior. They may start hanging around new friends, have sudden changes in appearance, lose interest in favorite things, or start doing poorly in school when they once excelled. Essentially, they completely change as a person for no apparent reason.
Physical Symptoms of an Addiction
At first, a teenager who develops an addiction to prescription medication may not have any physical symptoms. Over time, as the addiction progresses, physical symptoms will start to show.
Physical symptoms of a prescription drug addiction include:
• Dilated pupils
• Slurred speech
• Excessive fatigue
• Difficulty sleeping
• Sudden lapses in memory/excessive forgetfulness
• Sudden weight loss
• Frequent nausea
Physical symptoms of a drug addiction will vary from teenager to teenager. Some teenagers will show all of these physical symptoms, while others show only one or two symptoms.
It is important to seek the help of a healthcare professional if a teenager is showing physical symptoms of an addiction. Sometimes another disease or illness may be causing these symptoms, and it doesn’t mean a teenager is addicted to prescription medication. A healthcare professional will be able to rule out any illnesses or disease that may cause these symptoms.
Get Your Teen Help if You Notice These Prescription Drug Abuse Signs
Once you know the prescription drug abuse signs, if you suspect your teenager has an addiction, it is important to get them help. Call Atlantic Recovery Center today to learn about various prescription drug abuse signs and treatment programs that can help your teenager start down the path to recovery.