Up until about 5 years ago I knew very little about the signs of drug abuse and addiction. Over the past five years, because of addiction affecting my family and so many other people, I’ve become more aware of the dangers associated with this problem, so I continue to educate myself on a regular basis.
The overdose statistics are staggering and quite honestly frightening. There is not a family that is immune to being affected by addiction. We can educate our children, but, eventually, we have to set them free: free to make their own choices in this scary world.
There are many signs of addiction. Opioid addiction signs can vary depending on the individual. One indication may be a change in behavior. The person may become less social and may fall asleep at random times during the day. They may have angry outbursts over minor incidents and become uncontrollable or inconsolable. The individual could become depressed and withdrawn. You may notice a loss in their motivation to do daily activities that they have always done in the past. If the individual is in school, grades may slip, or they may stop participating in sports. If they are employed individuals they may start getting disciplined at their jobs or fired. Their sleep pattern may change, and they may have difficulty falling asleep. They may show physical agitation. Always keep in mind that many addicts can continue to function as productive members of society. A good indicator that someone may have an addiction problem is when money or valuable items start to go missing.
Other warning signs of an opioid addiction are when the individual has a hard time sitting still and becomes fidgety. The person may pick at their skin whether they have scabs or not. They may start eating a lot of sugary candy or their appetite may decrease. Every person who is abusing opioids, whether it is over the counter meds or street drugs, will show different signs. Don’t be afraid to question new behaviors that are out of the ordinary for that person.
Many of these signs and symptoms are hard to spot in teenagers. Teenagers often present some of the above signs as they go through different stages of growing up. They get moody and can be agitated at times, and they get to an age where it isn’t “cool” to hang out with their parents anymore. The difference between normal teenage behavior and the actions of an addict is when these behaviors become extreme. You as the parent know your child better than anyone else.
There are many different objects that can be used for smoking, snorting or injecting heroin or other opioids. Things to look for can be often found in a person’s bedroom, house or car and may include small pieces of tinfoil with black marks on them, cut up straws, missing spoons, glass pipes, rolling papers, and, the most obvious, needles. Other signs may be black smudge marks on commonly touched places such as light switches or door knobs. Addicts are very creative in finding ways to hide their addiction. I say go with your gut. There is no harm in asking questions. Go through your kids’ bedrooms!
It is imperative as a parent to pay attention to your kids. This doesn’t mean just asking them how their day was, it means interacting and showing them that you are interested in what they are doing. Showing, not just telling them, that you love them, is important. Also, be vigilant, not only of your own children but of their friends. Speak up if you have a concern whether it is your kid or not. Addiction can’t be fought alone. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes more than a village to help an addict. Don’t give up on them. Make sure they know that they are loved, but don’t enable their addiction.
It is important to keep yourself healthy and not let another person’s addiction destroy you.