Canadian, OK (PRWEB) October 16, 2007

When children hit their teens and are not so dependent on parents for companionship or support, it’s easy to breathe a sigh of relief and reduce one’s monitoring. If this reduction is met with changes in behavior that might indicate drug or alcohol abuse, it’s important for a parent to know what to do next.

What changes may indicate drug abuse? Mood swings from grumpy to happy without apparent reason; withdrawal from family members and activities; carelessness about personal grooming; loss of interest in sports, studies or favorite activities, changed sleeping patterns; emotional blowups or abuse; being absent from school or from home for long hours; making excuses for behavior; overreaction to criticism; needing money or having unexplained money. The appearance of these signs does not indicate drug abuse in every teen, but they should raise red flags.

Parents suspecting drug abuse may ask their children outright if they are abusing drugs, be answered with “Of course not, I would never do that,” and then not know how to proceed. Parents want to love and trust their children and not accuse them unfairly. But when these signs continue, a parent must change tactics in three important ways.

1.    Make it harder for the teen to engage in drug-related activities. Restrict use of cell phone or car. Require more attendance at family dinners or outings. Require more reporting on whereabouts and confirm the accuracy of the reports. Provide less cash which may mean you have to accompany the teen on purchasing trips.

2.    Open the channels of communication by letting the teen know that you will accept any communication from them without blame or shame, and then make opportunities for them to talk privately with you. And if they do tell you startling news, you have to keep that promise.

3.    Provide the teen with drug education they can understand, identify with and use.

As well as being dearly loved, children are this country’s most precious resource for the future. They deserve a present and a future free from drug abuse and need to be taught how to avoid this danger that they are all too likely to encounter at a young age.

“We understand that it’s hard for many parents to know where to start,” stated Ryan Thorpe, Director of Admissions at Narconon Arrowhead, one of the country’s leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation and education centers in Canadian, Oklahoma. “To help with this task, Narconon Arrowhead is offering parents and other interested people two free booklets to help educate themselves and their children on the problems associated with drug use: 10 Things Your Friends May Not Know About Drugs and Healing Addicted Lives.”

To obtain these booklets, call 1-800-468-6933 today. For more information on the rehabilitation and educational services of Narconon Arrowhead, call this number today or visit the website www.stopaddiction.com. The Narconon program was founded in 1966 by William Benitez in Arizona State Prison, and is based on the humanitarian works of L. Ron Hubbard. In more than 120 centers around the world, Narconon programs restore drug and alcohol abusers and addicts to a clean and sober lifestyle.

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