Drug or alcohol addiction problem not only affects the person abusing substances; it affects each perspective of an individual’s life, including family, children, and relationships.

It can be very stressful when any of your family members are addicted, but it can be even more painful when your son is an addict. Parent’s love is not about approval or achievement. It is a kind of special love that gives their child unconditional support and concern. Most of the parents say that they would die for their children, and the majority of them do mean it. One of the toughest conditions for a father or mother to go through is to see their child battling with substance abuse addiction. 

Sometimes parents may start to feel hopeless or even start criticizing themselves and the family and friends of drug addicts tend to undergo personal negative outcomes, such as anxiety or depression. 

Here below we have mentioned common behavioral signs that your child is abusing the substance.

• Lie about their substance abuse
• Drop out of class or skip class frequently
• Fail in exams or get lower ranks
• Compel their classmates to abuse substances
• Separate themselves from family and previous friends and spend more time with unhealthy friends
• Creating a problem at school
• Ask for or steal money daily
• Feeling discouraged and attempt suicide
• Change their interests or friend groups

Physical signs of drug abuse may include:

• Changes in appetite
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Unexpected weight loss or gain
• Lack of care for physical condition or hygiene
• Bloodshot eyes
• Shaking
• Slurred or confused speech
• Poor coordination
• Unusual smells on the body or clothes
• Seizures in the lack of epilepsy
• Larger or smaller pupils than normal
• Nosebleeds

Here are some tips for parents regarding how to deal with your child and their substance abuse problem

• Make Sure to Understand Addiction
• Be Supportive
• Get Them Into A Substance Abuse Treatment Center
• Love them, but don’t rescue them
• Make your child focus on the Positives
• Don’t Forget to Love Yourself

Treatment for your child’s addiction

Treatment should be incorporated with evidence-based therapies such as dialectical behavior treatment or cognitive-behavioral treatment. These kinds of therapies teach your child to identify and fix problematic behaviors and improve ways to deal with anxiety and other triggers.

Types of therapy for treating your child’s addiction

• Contingency management
• Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy 
• Motivational enhancement therapy
• 12-step facilitation
• Family-based therapies
• Activities that help your child to develop the emotional and spiritual side of recovery, such as art therapy, meditation, experiential therapy, and journaling.
• Activities that help your child to develop physical health, such as exercise programs and nutritional counseling 

Find a way to recovery

As a parent, caring for your child should be the priority. If you are ready to send your child to an addiction treatment center, contact addictionaide today, at 802-231-1018 for a 24/7 free and 100% confidential assessment. We are here to help you find the right kind of rehabilitation center that suits your child’s unique needs. We can help your child to win the battle of addiction.