Is Your Teen Under the Influence of Drugs?
Drug and alcohol use among teenagers continue to be a growing concern. Teens aren’t just using the “traditional” substances anymore. Synthetic drugs have hit the market and can be easily purchased, they’re unregulated and it’s impossible to know what chemicals and toxins were used to manufacture them. This makes monitoring teens for drug use even more important.
Figuring out if your child is using drugs or alcohol can be challenging. Many of the signs and symptoms are typical teen behavior. Use Your Nose. Have a real, face-to-face conversation when your teen comes home after socializing with friends. If there has been drinking or smoking, the smell will be on their breath, clothing and in their hair. Look Them in the Eyes. Pay attention to their eyes. Eyes will be red with constricted pupils if they’ve used marijuana. Pupils will be dilated, and they may have difficulty focusing if they’ve been drinking. Also, a red flushed face and cheeks can also be a sign of drinking. Watch for Mood Changes. Are they loud and obnoxious, or laughing hysterically at nothing? Unusually clumsy to the point of stumbling into furniture, tripping over their own feet and knocking things over? Are they queasy and stumble into the bathroom? These are all signs that they could have been drinking, using marijuana or other drugs.
ARCpoint Labs works with parents who suspect their teen of drug or alcohol abuse. We provide all types of screening options for identifying drug or alcohol abuse. We’re experts in detecting traditional drugs of abuse, prescription drugs, modern synthetic substances as well as steroids and other performance-enhancing substances. We listen to your concerns and help you make informed decisions about which drugs and testing methods will provide the answers you need. Our consistent testing procedures ensure our test results can be relied upon to make proper judgments and decisions.
By Annmarie Dallao
ARCpoint Labs of Reading
