If you are a parent, you should be aware of a few telltale signs that your child is using marijuana. While certain liberal members of the media would like the American public to believe that marijuana is harmless, it is not. It can have a devastating impact on a person’s life, especially if he hasn’t yet reached adulthood. If you do think your child is using, what should you do? We’ll discuss some signs of using and how to approach your child about it.
Signs of Marijuana Use
Monitor your child’s behavior closely before confronting him or her. When he returns home from an outing, find a reason to walk toward his vicinity to determine whether he smells like marijuana. Look into his eyes after his outings. If they are consistently bloodshot, he might be smoking marijuana. Another sign is finding empty Visine bottles. Many people use Visine to mask the redness associated with smoking pot. Oftentimes, kids who use marijuana lose interest in their hobbies. If your child or teen has quit extracurricular activities, doesn’t have an interest in his typical passions, and has deteriorating grades, he might be spending his free time smoking marijuana. This sign can also be indicative of other problems such as depression, so start by asking general questions that will open communication, not accuse.
Why Is Marijuana Dangerous?
Although marijuana is not as physically addictive as some other drugs, it still presents a danger. It is a gateway drug that often leads to the use of “hard” drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine and others. Many teens try marijuana, get a buzz, and think that other drugs will be similar. Unfortunately, marijuana is fairly tame compared to “harder” drugs. It’s a slippery slope, and your child or teen might not realize just how much his life can spin out of control when he experiments with marijuana.
How to Approach Your Child
Marijuana use is more popular at the moment, and the unfortunate truth is that the majority of youngsters will give it a try before graduating from college. If you suspect that your child or teen is smoking marijuana, don’t confront him in an accusatory manner. Start by asking questions when you see signs. Does your child smell like weed when they come in the door? You can comment that they smell different, then decide how to proceed based on their reaction.
Once you have come to the point where you need to confront your child, sit down with him to have an open, honest talk about drugs. You should come prepared with a printout of testimonials from those who have used marijuana and now regret it. Tell your child all about these people and how they wasted years of their lives smoking marijuana. Instead of interacting with their peers, looking for a significant other, and developing their talents, they spent their time smoking marijuana. It will also help to print out a list of top employers who test for marijuana.
If your child understands that marijuana has the potential to take over his life and ruin his career, he’ll be less likely to use it. No matter what, you should make it clear that you will always be there to lend your support. If your child knows that he can talk with you about anything, especially sensitive subjects such as peer pressure and marijuana use, he’ll be more likely to be honest with you.