By: Jacky Brady

Not scientifically reviewed by Dr. Eeks

When you have kids, there are certain things that are pretty much always going to be worrying or concerning. One is the topic of substance abuse, which becomes especially important when your kids are adolescents and older, but can also be an issue at any age. One of the main challenges of parenting is figuring out how to approach the topic of substance abuse, and this is something that you can actually approach in a few different ways. Here are some of the main things you might want to consider when you are trying to do this right for your kids.

The Signs

One of the most important things to know is the signs of substance abuse, because then you will be able to spot when your child is going through this. The earlier you spot it, the more you can do about it, so that is definitely something that you will want to think about here. Some of the signs of substance abuse include a change in behavior and attitude, mood swings, being secretive, and changes in sleep or weight gain and loss. If these all happen at once, you might need to consider the possibility of substance abuse.

Talking To Them

You’ll likely already know that it’s important you talk to your kids if this happens, but it’s not always easy to work out the best way to do so. Talking to your kids in the right way is really important, however. You need to try and remind them that you are on their side, and that you are there to help them. Try not to judge, but instead to be understanding. And make sure that you actually listen to them, rather than simply telling them what’s what. All that can help with them actually opening up to you, which is what you need in order to continue the process of helping them.

Finding Help

There are all kinds of help you can look out for when your kid is going through this kind of situation. You always have the option of going to the likes of Second Nature Utah, which is a group dedicated to helping teens going through problems like this. You can also go to the doctor and any other professionals you think might be helpful. There are many kinds of therapy which can be useful as well. The main thing to remember here is to get them help as soon as possible.

There Is Hope

Throughout all of this, you should try to remember – and to remind your child – that there is always hope. If you are able to keep that in mind, you should find that it’s easier to get through the situation together, which is something that you are both going to be grateful for. So keep that hope alive, and do it for your own sake as well as your child’s. That turns out to be a really important factor in all of this too, so it’s something you should consider.