How to find out if the teen is using drugs?

Question

last few month my 9th grader is extremely tired and angry in the morning, because his body aiches to get up. Today first time I've noticed a light redness in one eye.He has asthma, and we think he is educated well enough not to use the substances. Am I alarmed for no reasons? Or I have to figure out how to check for the worst? And how do I figure it out?

Answer 1

Detecting whether your son or daughter is on drugs is very easy. You'll need to look for some simple external signs. To help you do so effectively, here are some tips:

A majority of drugs require a "delivery mechanism". Some drugs are smoked with cigarettes. You can look for tell-tale signs whether your son is indeed smoking and what. If he's using tobacco as a delivery mechanism or vehicle, all you need to do is sniff his clothes, especially the shirt or jacket. It will bear that unmistakable odor of burnt tobacco and an aromatic smell of the drug- artificial or natural. Other signs include strands of tobacco in shirt, jacket or trouser pockets, match boxes or lighters. Drugs also leave a brownish or dark stain on the fingers, when its being smoked and palms, when its being mixed with tobacco. Being slightly greasy, such stains dont go so quick, even when washed with soap or grease cutting detergents.

If the delivery mechanism is injections: Look for tell tale signs such as almost invisible but yet apparent small, red or other colored pin-prick like marks left behind by the hypodermic or intravenous needles. These will be mostly on arms, wrists, sometimes the palms or buttocks and sometimes, on the back. The spot where the latest dose was injected will usually be slightly reddish or swollen like a small mosquito bite.

If your child is using 'chasing' technique, which means vaporizing the drug with intense heat from below and inhaling the fumes, you can detect it by one look at the teeth. The front four to six teeth, just below the nose, will usually have a grey or brown or dark residue, left from chasing the drug. These will be very apparent unless your son has taken the trouble of using mild Hydrogen Peroxide solution as mouth wash, which bleaches off the stains, almost immediately after drug use. Drug "chasers" usually carry or store a lot of aluminum foil- like the type used to wrap food, or a thin metal bowl or spoon. They also have an ample supply of matches or many lighters, particularly, the filament, anti-draft type that throw out intense flame.

Narcotics and psychotropic substances consumed in the form or tablets, pills or capsules leave NO external marks for obvious reasons. Thus, you'll need to look for "internal scars." These include dilated pupils in the eyes. If your son's pupils ( the spot at the centre of the retina) appears unusually large, it means they are dilated. They should NOT be larger than your or your wife's eye pupils.

Dry mouth or throat and frequent urge to drink water- especially chilled water in cold weather- is a sign but not necessarily related to drug use. But addicts tend to dehydrate more than others.

Drug users also develop habits which might appear strange for your culture or community. These can be very simple to rather complex, such as preference towards a particular way of dressing up- which might be peculiar to your family, preference for a particular kind of music, played repeatedly, sometimes, aversion or liking for loud music or sounds and disinterest in anything that doesnt fit into that "alien" culture.

Addicts are also known to have preferences for certain kinds of foods with strong tastes- such as very spicy or very sour, very salty or very bitter. That's because drug use diminishes the sensitivity of taste buds and regular food is tasteless to the addict. Most will shun coffee or tea or soft drinks that contain caffeine- which reduces the "kick" of the drug. They develop abnormal food habits and are hungry at odd times and tend to skip regular meals- because hunger attacks when the drug effect begins to ebb.

Restlessness, anger at being questioned, jittery behavior, mood swings, dangling between extreme self confidence and utter diffidence within a short span of time, such as a couple of hours, intense fear, shivering without apparent reason, glassy, inattentive yet fixed looks- are other signs to look for.

Also, you may wish to look around his room and closet, toilet and other places such as on top of closets, pelmets etc, to see whether any strange objects or material used for drug delivery into the body are found. These can include injection syringes, plastic or metal tubes about 3- 4 inches long for chasing drug vapors, cigarette wrappers and loose tobacco, or cheap pipes used for smoking. These will all bear that unmistakable odor or aroma of drugs.
What your son might be experiencing is hormonal swings that are all common at his age and you need not be unduly worried. A simple test at a proper clinic or by your family MD should settle the issue. You need NOT tell him it's a drug test. Instead, mask it as a test to check his growth or something equally routine.

Answer 2

Talk to him. You'll never get any honesty from your children if you don't keep an open relationship with them.
If he blows you off, you have reason to be alarmed. If he talks with you seriously about it, most likely you don't have a problem (unless he's a real good liar). But when you talk to him, don't come off like you're accusing him, or he won't want to talk at all. After talking to him, you should have a good enough idea if he's hiding anything or not. I think we should all know our children that much atleast.
If you still have reason to be alarmed, you have every right to look through his things. And like some other people have said, buy the at home drug tests too. That way you can know for sure if he's clean or not.

Answer 3

Be blunt and approach him. Let him know your concerns and what you wonder. Together you can delve into this.As for drug use, be sure to ask him and bring it out in the open.
Also, I've found that teenagers tend to have sleep problems (has to do with their melatonin levels) and they usually stay up late, sleep in until noon. No wonder he's cranky. Take him to the pediatrician for a thorough exam and talk about your concerns. By bringing it out in the open, you son will find that you really are on his side and are doing it because you love him. Of course, its always hindsite when this happens. In the meantime, make sure he is eating properly and STAYING AWAY for those high caffeinated drinks that are so popular like Red Bull and Jolt (!) It could be something as simple as that.

Answer 4

Have a good talk with him. Explain your concerns. Get his opinion on drugs and their use. Flat out ask if he is using. The symptoms that you describe could also be result of several mental health disorders, including bipolar disease. Let him know that based on his behavior you have some concerns. You want to know how to help but you're at a loss. You'll be doing the drug test to confirm or rule out drug use. Either way, you'll be able to get him the help he needs and let him know that you care enough to notice him, and do whatever it takes to ensure that he is healthy. Let the doctor do the test. Then you aren't condemning him if it returns positive. If he IS using he's going to blame who ever finds out the positive test. This way he can blame an outsider and partner up with you to find solutions. Good luck!

Answer 5

When I was 17 my parents went through the phase of insiting I had to be on drugs, not just going through my teenage years. They told me in order to have this resolved, had to go take a drug test at the local clinic. Of course, I passed....but that still didn't get me over the fact that my parents accused me. Now at 26 years old, if I had kids I would have done the same thing looking back on how bad we were as teens, good luck.

Answer 6

he maybe not getting enough sleep sounds like hes fatigued and maybe a lil stressed bout something. If hes doing good in school and everything else I wouldnt worry much right now..If u want to find out hes doin drugs or not sit down and talk to him and listen to what he has to say too.
If that doesnt work then just keep a good eye on him.

Answer 7

well what is he doing wiht his friends and where is he hangnig out, are there always adult supervision where hes at. i think if your really concerned sit down and ask him why hes so tired lately and make him go to bed earlier. or take him to the dr and get him checked out even if he isnt doing drugs there mihgt be something else wrong. also the drs office can do drug tests if you request it but if he isnt doing drugs and you drug test him u will lose alota trust from him. best route is to talk to him about why hes so tired try changing his sleeping patterns and if nothign works go see a dr

Answer 8

redness in the eye could be anything...don't go off that unless BOTH eyes are really red. tiredness and body aches could be anything as well. maybe he's stressed? here are signs to look for that he's using...(well pot)
an extra bottle of visine lying around (to get the redness out)
heads for food when he gets home (especially choc. or anything cheesy)
extra cologne/ excess changing of clothes (to cover the smell)
extra forgetfulness...
all in all DO NOT assume anything because you know what assuming does!!!

Answer 9

allergies.

also, what substances do you suspect? do you have any other "evidence" because to me, this sounds like a kid whos staying up online too late at night, not getting enough sleep, and is moody and tired in the morning.

yeah, probably doing crack.

drug test him

Answer 10

none of those symptoms are signs of drug use. it seems like normal behavior for an early teen child. they stay up too late, don't get enough sleep, don't eat right. after a period of time all those things really add up and can start effecting behavior.