What to do if your child is addicted to drugs

Mar 21, 2023

If you’re concerned that your child may be struggling with addiction, it’s important to take action. This guide provides practical advice for parents on how to recognize the signs of drug addiction and what steps to take to help your child on the road to recovery.

Children and drug addiction

People of all ages, including minors, can be impacted by the severe issue of drug addiction. The last thing a parent wants is for their kid to fall victim to substance addiction. Unfortunately, anyone can become hooked, and if your kid already has an addiction, it can be challenging to know what to do. We’ll talk about what you can do if your kid is a substance addict in this blog article.

You’ll find helpful tips and resources to help your child overcome their addiction and get their life back on track, from seeking professional help to creating a supportive home environment.

Recognize the Symptoms of Drug Dependence

Recognizing the symptoms of a substance addiction is the first stage in recovery. Changes in behavior, mood fluctuations, poor sanitation, and changes in hunger are a few of the typical symptoms of substance abuse. Aside from withdrawing from family and peers, your kid may also start to withdraw from family and friends and lose interest in activities they once enjoyed. If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to take action.

What to do if suspect your child is addicted to drugs?

It can be terrible as a parent to worry that your child might have a drug addiction. You may feel helpless and overwhelmed by the idea that your child is battling addiction. It’s crucial to keep in mind that you’re not helpless and that there are things you can do to support your kid. Approaching the problem with empathy, comprehension, and a readiness to listen is crucial. Even though it could be challenging, it’s crucial to discuss your worries with your child in an open and sincere manner.

Speak with your child about the concerns

The following stage is to discuss your child’s problem with them. Although having this discussion can be challenging, it’s crucial to do so with compassion and understanding. Avoid being aggressive or furious because doing so may cause your kid to become guarded and less likely to open up to you.

Instead, make an effort to start the discussion off on a loving and caring note. Make sure your kid understands that you care about them and want to see them succeed in kicking their drug. Encourage them to be open and honest with you about their substance use, and pay them no disrespect when they speak.

co-dependency and drug addiction children

ALSO FROM OUR BLOG:

Get Expert Assistance

You probably won’t be able to manage your drug abuse on your own because it’s a complicated problem. Thus, seeking expert assistance is crucial. Parents of children who are drug addicts have access to a wide range of tools, such as therapists, addiction experts, and support organizations.

Think about getting in touch with a specialist in drug therapy. They can assist you in understanding the underlying reasons of your child’s addiction and in creating a strategy for recovery. Additionally, they might suggest a course of treatment like psychotherapy, group therapy, or residential rehab.

Assemble a support network

Drug addiction recovery is a protracted and challenging process, so it’s crucial for your kid to have a solid support system. This includes those who can support them during the recovery process, such as family, acquaintances, and experts.

You are an essential part of this support structure as a caregiver. Make sure your kid is aware of your unwavering support. As they struggle to conquer their problem, give them your support, encouragement, and patience.

Encourage healthy Behavior

Addiction frequently coexists with harmful behaviors like a poor diet, inactivity, and erratic sleeping patterns. Supporting your child’s healing and enhancing their general well-being can both be accomplished by encouraging them to develop healthy routines.

Encourage your kid to maintain a normal sleep schedule, consume a healthy diet, and engage in regular exercise. This may improve their bodily and emotional well-being and lessen their desire for drugs.

Set Clear Boundaries

It’s important to set clear boundaries with your child when they are recovering from addiction. This may include rules around drug use, curfews, and expectations around school or work.

Be firm but compassionate when setting these boundaries, and make sure your child understands the consequences of breaking them. This can help them stay on track with their recovery and avoid relapse.

Stay Involved

Recovering from drug addiction is a long and difficult journey, and it’s important to stay involved in your child’s recovery process. Check in with them regularly, attend therapy sessions with them, and offer your support whenever they need it.

It is critical to recognize and celebrate even the smallest successes of individuals in recovery from addiction. This expression of gratitude can serve as motivation for them to continue on their path to recovery and stay focused on their objectives.

Conclusion

Coping with a child’s drug addiction can be overwhelming and frightening, but it is possible to help them overcome it by recognizing the signs, communicating with them, seeking professional help, building a support network, promoting healthy habits, setting clear limits, and remaining actively involved. It is critical to remember that addiction is a medical condition that can be treated, and that recovery is possible with the right treatment and support.

Thank you for reading ‘What to do if your child is addicted to drugs‘.

About Hacienda Paradiso

Hacienda Paradiso is the first ever fully eco rehab in Spain, located in the south of Spain, near the city of Málaga. Our in-patient treatment center coexists with surrounding ecosystems in an area of outstanding natural beauty inside a natural park.

Watch this video on YouTube

At Hacienda Paradiso we believe in a safe and healing environment with a mixture of therapeutic and holistic therapies in the natural surroundings of nature. There is an answer for everything and we find the solution.

Each and every person is different, so each addiction is too. We are able to help you because we adapt all our expertise to your personal situation – with the pure and simple aim of achieving a lifetime of recovery.

Our addiction treatments

Detox @ Purify™

Detox, the first stage of becoming free from drug and alcohol dependency, is both physically and psychologically uncomfortable. Purify™ by Hacienda Paradiso was created to ease this discomfort. Restoring the body and mind in safe and comfortable surroundings, under medical supervision. The detox process will be complete within seven to ten days, with many clients beginning a successful programme of recovery after the detox process is complete.

Alcohol Addiction

Hacienda Paradiso is an award-winning alcohol treatment facility where the process of treating addiction is grounded in care, compassion and recovery. The process of treating alcohol addiction usually goes through four stages: admission, detox, rehab, and lasting recovery. We adopt an approach that is discreet, non-judgmental and individual. Our priority is to look beyond the symptoms of alcoholism and treat the causes of the condition, delivering successful lasting recovery and remission.

Bipolar Disorders & Depression

Childhood trauma, stress, grief, structural brain changes, hormonal imbalances and other neurological indicators have a proven link to Bipolar Disorder & Depression. Treatment at Hacienda Paradiso is highly effective and helps sufferers gain valuable insight and increased control over mood swings and other symptoms. It is essential to seek treatment as early as possible.

At Hacienda Paradiso, you will meet our Consultant Psychiatrist on admission. They will help you describe the symptoms you have experienced, and together with the exceptional therapeutic team, will create a treatment plan with you. If you have been using alcohol or substances, we will help you to safely detox in comfort, while we assess your care plan and recovery.

Our addiction treatments

Detox @ Purify™

Depression

Hacienda Paradiso luxury residential depression clinic takes an individualized deep dive with clients on a therapeutic led journey of recovery. The World Class treatment teams deliver long term remission from all forms of depression, depressive episodes and previously treatment resistant cases of major depressive disorder. Award-winning therapists and psychiatrists at the Hacienda work with clients to identify and treat and heal underlying problems. If the causes of depression are not identified, treated and healed, sufferers of can continue to experience symptoms throughout their lives.

Drug addiction

Drug addiction is a very complex, multi-faceted disorder. Major indications of drug addiction include cravings, withdrawal and unsuccessful previous attempts to stop or reduce use. The drug addiction experts at Hacienda Paradiso treat all forms of addiction including cocaine, cannabis and prescription medication. Hacienda Paradiso takes a pragmatic and highly individualized approach to drug addiction by treating the underlying factors and any co-existing mental health issues. The team at Hacienda Paradiso has been recognized internationally for their success and dedication to long term successful recovery.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Dual diagnosis is a term when a mental illness and substance misuse disorder coexist simultaneously. Often depression and anxiety may lead to alcohol and drug addiction and vice versa. The complexities of Dual Diagnosis is to establish the specific order of coexisting conditions to effectively treat the underlying causes to create successful, lasting and long term recovery from addiction and remission from coexisting mental health conditions.

Anxiety Disorders

Anxiety is an emotion that is okay to feel. Experiencing it occasionally is common and normal. However, anxiety disorders are much different to feeling the occasional bout of anxiety. Anxiety disorders can be paralyzing to those who experience them. They can leave a person feeling unable to cope with life.

Residential treatment at Hacienda Paradiso Clinic allows you to live, learn, and understand your anxiety disorder. Often clients experience significant and rapid reduction in anxiety and in many cases complete remission from a debilitating condition.

Gambling Addiction

The World Class team at Hacienda Paradiso are experts at treating pathological gambling addiction. Our unique and highly individualized programme of recovery equips you with the tools to break the cycle of addiction. We will create a unique treatment plan to heal the symptoms and address your own specific root-causes.

Gambling addiction often coexists with other addictions or mental health issues so it’s imperative to assess any dual diagnosis concerns that may have previously been undiagnosed.

Gaming Addiction

Video game addiction is a very real mental health condition impacting many millions of people around the world, across all ages. The most addicting games include Fortnite, League of Legends, PUBG, Minecraft and other household names. This is because video games are designed to be addictive.

Gaming addicts may experience significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational or other important areas of functioning. Gaming disorder is a process addiction and help is available from the team at Hacienda Paradiso. The friendly, non-judgmental therapeutic help develop a healthy relationship with technology and devise ways to ensure long term recovery and remission from video game addiction.

Sex Addiction

Dr Ruth Arenas leads our award-winning residential sex and love addiction clinic. Hacienda Paradiso is the only treatment center in Europe to separate love and sex addiction. While we recognize the similarities, we identify and treat each as standalone unique issues that may be triggering compounded emotional distress.

Dr Ruth is one of the Worlds foremost authorities in compulsive sexual disorder and hypersexuality. Residential treatment at Hacienda Paradiso boosts self-esteem and rebuilds mechanisms to increase resilience. Our World Class professionals help clients achieve freedom from destructive, compulsive and obsessive behaviors.

Prescription Medication Addiction

If you or a loved one has developed a prescription drug addiction, help is available. At Hacienda Paradiso our prescription drug addiction treatment is focused on complete and lasting long-term recovery. Our approach is non-judgmental and highly therapeutic. Our medical experts and clinicians will design a treatment plan specific for your situation, and the nature of your prescription drug addiction.

The exact treatment depends on the specific prescription medications, while at same time identifying and addressing the issues and reasons underlying the addiction.

DNA Testing for Addiction

The clinical team at Hacienda Paradiso are able to use cutting edge DNA testing to identify which drugs would be safer and more effective for use in a client’s recovery. As one of the only treatment clinics in Europe to offer DNA testing the team are able to quickly find which medically assisted treatment works best in each unique and individual case. This groundbreaking approach reduces the potential for uncomfortable side effects and greatly speeds a client’s recovery.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (TDCS)

Transcranial direct current stimulation is a non-invasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. TDCS is successfully used in the treatment of depression, PTSD, anxiety and other persistent psychological issues. Transcranial direct current stimulation at Hacienda Paradiso is particularly successful when a client presents with treatment resistant depression.