5 Signs Your Young Adult Child Needs Drug Abuse Treatment
Anyone can become addicted to drugs. You don’t have to be over a certain age. In fact, young adults make up a large proportion of Americans who abuse drugs on a regular basis. This makes it crucial for parents and loved ones of young adults to be on the lookout for specific warnings signs that may indicate a problem.
What are those warning signs? Let’s take a look:
A change in the people your child hangs around.
Is your young adult child suddenly spending time with a different group of people? Have they cut all ties with their “old” friends to hang out with new ones? While not always the case, this could indicate a change in behavior such as drug abuse. Take note of who the peer group is, what they talk about and where they hang out. This might point to additional drug abuse warning signs.
An increase in apathy, especially in areas of grooming and favorite activities.
Does it seem like your young adult child could care less about personal hygiene, brushing their hair or taking part in their favorite hobbies or sports? Did this lack of enthusiasm seem to come out of nowhere? This could be a warning sign of drug use. Many young adults who abuse drugs tend to drift away from activities they once enjoyed, instead spending their energy focusing more and more on obtaining and taking drugs.
Missing classes, skipping school or a decline in academic performance.
If your young adult child is in college or taking classes, and their grades seem to be unusually poor, something could be going on. Just like drug use causes apathy in areas of once-beloved activities and basic hygiene, drug use can also cause apathy in relation to schoolwork. Occasional class-skipping or a bad test grade are normal, but not when they start happening suddenly and more often than usual.
Changes in eating or sleeping habits.
Substance abuse is linked to sleep disturbances, so if you notice your young adult child not getting enough sleep or acting unusually tired, it could be a sign. Additionally, addiction to drugs can alter a person’s metabolism and suppress appetite, leading to eating less than normal. Substance abuse often leads to a lack of proper nutrition, so take note of your child’s eating habits and if they have suddenly changed.
Deteriorating relationships with family or friends.
Drug abuse doesn’t just affect a person’s physical body – it also affects their emotional and personal relationships. Those who abuse drugs can easily begin to drift away from family and friends who once held a special place in their life. It may seem like your young child is pushing you away. Combined with the other warning signs noted above, this could point to drug use.
Talbott Recovery offers a young adult addiction treatment program geared specifically towards young adults between ages 18 to 25. The three types of young adult treatment programs offered by Talbott Recovery include Substance Abuse in Young, Addiction Therapy for Young Adults and High-Risk Young Adult Rehab. You can learn more about these drug abuse treatment programs here.