SUBSTANCE USE, MISUSE, ABUSE

It can be difficult to tell if your child is consuming harmful levels of drugs or alcohol, especially if they’re trying to hide their drug or alcohol use. Some drugs can result in noticeable physical symptoms, including:

• Pupils that are larger or smaller than normal
• Frequent nosebleeds
• Shakes or tremors
• Sudden weight loss or gain
• Difficulty sleeping
• Runny nose or sniffing.

Your child may be misusing drugs or alcohol if their use leads to:

• Difficulty keeping up at school or work
• Relationship or family problems
• Legal or financial difficulties
• Injuries — for example, due to accidents or violence after using drugs or alcohol.

Many young people experiment with alcohol or other drugs without becoming dependent on these substances, or developing an addiction. In other words, they are able to stop or cut down on their use without help. But some people cannot do this alone. Using drugs can affect the lives of those caught up in it in ways they might not expect. It can affect health, relationships, jobs and education. Recognising whether your child has a problem with drugs or alcohol is an important first step in seeking help and treatment.

Supporting your child who is using drugs and alcohol can be really hard. Often you see things that they cannot; the changes in their thinking, their mood and the way they act with you and other friends, classmates or colleagues. You might want to tell them to stop using, and you might have tried this, but you can’t force them to change – they need to make that choice for themselves.