Trust is key in parenting. Every parent wants to believe that when asked a direct question, the answer they get is the truth. Unfortunately, that’s not always so, especially when a child heads down the road of risky behavior.
As part of its mission, SAFE in Sag Harbor is there to help parents navigate these troubled waters and increase awareness of the issue within the community.
Determining whether your child is using drugs can be challenging. In its article “Look for Warning Signs,” the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids notes “many of the signs and symptoms are, at times, typical teen or young adult behavior. Many are also symptoms of mental health issues, including depression or anxiety disorders.”
http://drugfree.org/article/look-for-warning-signs/
Familiarizing yourself with some of the commons signs of drug use is a good start. Whether those signs lead to other issues that need to be addressed or offer evidence (or not) of drug use, it’s important that parents “trust their gut.”
http://drugfree.org/article/spotting-drug-use/
In our experience, among the top three warning signs of drug use are:
1. Withdrawal from activities or people
2. Money missing from your wallet
3. Mood swings
If your child shows any of these signs, it’s time for a conversation. Be prepared for it before the conversation starts. For more warning signs, read here:
https://www.ncadd.org/about-addiction/signs-and-symptoms/what-to-look-for-signs-and-symptoms
Kym Laube is the program director of SAFE in Sag Harbor, a community-based organization dedicated to creating a substance-abuse-free environment in Sag Harbor, safeinsagharbor.org