Determining if a drug intervention is necessary for someone you love is a hard endeavor to endure; it takes on a whole new meaning when the drug intervention is for your child.
However, statistics don’t lie that children are just as susceptible to drug abuse as adults are, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports about half of ninth through twelfth-grade students have tried marijuana and 2 out of 10 twelfth-graders have used prescription drugs without a prescription.
Before taking our quiz to decide if a drug intervention is needed for your child, consider whether your child is exhibiting signs of drug use and if a drug intervention might be best for your child and family.
Signs that your Child needs a Drug Intervention
Recognizing signs of drug use in your child can be hard to spot as a parent, but there are telltale signs indicating your child might be under the influence of drugs and needs medical help.
Signs include:
- Drop in grades and overall school performance;
- A decline in taking care of personal hygiene;
- Not attending school or skipping classes;
- Struggles in maintaining relationships with family and friends;
- Lack of interest in favorite activities;
- A decline in eating or sleeping habits.
Can a Drug Intervention help my Child?
A drug intervention consists of a structured gathering of friends and family, sometimes with a professional interventionist, to reveal to a loved one addicted to drugs that their behavior has warranted concern and the need for change. Common reasons for drug intervention are for those addicted to illicit drugs and/or prescription drugs.
For a child, this can be an eye-opening experience as they see loved ones crying and pleading for them to change. Seeing their mother cry or their friends telling them they have changed will cause any child to rethink their denial and whether help is needed.
There are also interventions where the child can take part in the intervention process, such as going through a workshop with their family and a professional interventionist. Knowing they have the support of family and caring professional help can encourage a child’s desire for change.