by Camila Negret

Created on: October 27, 2009

Drugs, a subject that is alienated from our minds, whether we are the victims or we are the needed helpers. When drug abuse occurs in a home it can be devastating for everyone, from the addict to those surrounding him/her, so we may attempt to avoid the subject and hope that the addiction will fade away, but it won't! As a parent, one of the biggest fears is that your son or daughter will eventually want to experiment and become independent at an early, but not so early age for teens. In the parents' eyes, one will always be responsible for the well-being of their children, and watching them self-destruct by abusing drugs is not something expected to be an easy process. Specially in today's world, where there are countless number of substances sold on the streets, from crack and other cheap drugs to heroin, to cocaine, to hallucinogens, and so on. It is worrying to realize that there is a huge market for these destructive "fun" substances, one that now targets teenagers, who can so easily fall for ways to "escape" or feel "free", but in reality could become and endless painful rode.

As a parent you know you must stop dreaming your child is just going through a rough stage, and know when to help, and more importantly, when to seek help. There is no need to be over protective, but if the teen is acting different in a negative way, isolating him/herself or showing drug abuse symptoms such as red eyes , vomit, paranoia, depression, or simply "too happy and relaxed", you may want to consult a professional who can guide you through the help you and your child need. Each addiction is on its own complex and independent, meaning that each victim has their own issues to why they become addicts, and for this reason they must be helped by someone who can understand the reasons, needs, and feelings that take them to their self-destructive ways.

It is recommended before making an appointment for you and your child with the professional to educate yourself about the different symptoms of different drugs, so that you may understand and sympathize a little bit more with what your child is feeling at the time, giving them the support they need to overcome their weakness; you want your family to become close together and treat drug addiction as an illness and not a taboo subject. You are ready to make the appointment and approach your son or daughter about it, but they might not, so it is recommended to encourage your child from getting the professional help a rehabilitation

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