Signs that your child is smoking or taking drugs

‘Choose a life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a f*****g big television. Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers… Choose DIY and wondering who the f**k you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit crushing game shows, stuffing junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away in the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, f****d up brats you spawned to replace yourself, choose your future. Choose life… But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose something else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you’ve got heroin?’, says Mark Renton in Danny Boyle’s famous movie Trainspotting.
This quote clearly sums up the junkie attitude that a lot of youngsters fall prey to during their teenage years. After all, the momentary high (or trip) that doing drugs gives them is so pleasurable, that making an effort to achieve something else seems meaningless.

I have known many friends who have indulged in marijuana and other drugs. (Not heroin or cocaine, but certainly marijuana and crystal meth). Not all of them have destroyed their lives, but some of them have seen their careers collapse. One thing that they’ve certainly destroyed (or at least damaged) is their health which is extremely crucial to a person’s long-term wellbeing.
Obviously, none of these friends told their parents about their habit. If they had, they’d have probably managed to undo some of the damage that they did. I always wondered why their parents never saw the signs. Want to know how you can find out whether your child is smoking or doing drugs?
Here are some tell-tale signs of a teen on cigarettes.
Happydent or some other chewing gum
Are they buying a lot of mint? While they may say that they like the taste, it is quite possible that it is just to conceal the smell of smoking. If your child smells of mint every time they come home, then it is time you keep a more watchful eye.
Matchboxes and lighters
Clearly, only a smoker will keep a matchbox or a lighter. Perform random checks in their bags and pockets, and if you find either of these two things, then you will have to start investigating.
If you are looking to find out whether your child is doing drugs or not, then here are some things you should know.
Rolling paper
Rolling paper are transparent and thin sheets of paper used to make a joint. If you find this in your child’s pocket, bag or drawer, then you must confront them immediately. Refer to this video to find out how these papers look.
Spending a lot of money
Are they getting done with their pocket money much faster than usual? While doing drugs does not always require an outrageous amount of money, addicts do end up spending more than they can afford in an intoxicated state.
Red and small eyes
While it is pretty easy to figure out if someone is drunk or not, the same is not the case with people who are stoned. They will talk normally to you, and perhaps become even more thoughtful and empathetic than normal. However, one sign that you should look out for is small and red eyes.
Eye-drops
One of the things that stoners do to conceal their red eyes, is put a certain eye drop (IKool). If you find eye drops in their drawer or bag, which haven’t been prescribed by a doctor, it is time for you to make inquiries. Find out what it’s like in a stoner’s world.
Excessive weight loss
Usually, drug addicts tend to lose a lot of weight, especially if they are doing something like crystal meth or heroin.
An intense desire to be left alone
Do their eyes light up every time you propose that you are going on a vacation? Or do they get irritated if you keep coming to their room? Most children prefer to be left alone during their teenage years, but if your child is showing excess irritation by your presence, there is a possibility that they are looking to hide something. Nobody likes being interrupted in the middle of rolling a joint.
Increased appetite
People eat a lot more when they are intoxicated. If your child usually eats five rotis for dinner, but suddenly demands nine one day, then there is a chance that they are stoned or intoxicated.
In case you catch your child doing drugs, don’t be too hard on them. Doing drugs isn’t the same as robbing a person, or killing an innocent.
I know a lot of my friends who are still doing drugs, and they are not bad people at all. I wish that they get they leave their habit, for the sake of their health.