For every 19 minutes that passes a person will die from an overdose related to prescription drugs in the U.S. Since 1990, The number of prescription overdose fatalities has tripled and the use of heroin is an increasing problem. Fortunately, treatment options for opiate addiction are available. Before your daughter or son can be willing to get help for opiate addiction, she or he must acknowledge that an issue is present.
Signs a Son or Daughter Needs Opiate Addiction Help
While emotional signs are often the first indicator, it’s easy to dismiss these signs as a result of stress at work or home. Parents may find aluminum foil, glass pipes, balloons, syringes or Ziploc bags if their loved one has a heroin addiction. All of these items are tools used to smoke or hold heroin. If your son or daughter has an addiction to prescription painkillers, he or she may have multiple prescriptions for the same drug. Be aware also that addicted individuals tend to go out of their way to hide the extent of their habit.
Physical and Behavioral Indicators
As the addiction becomes worse, your son or daughter may develop behavioral changes. He or she may become depressed or have unpredictable moods. Users like to spend time with other users, so your child may make new friends who use drugs. When the drugs run out, your child may appear drowsy or will sleep at unusual times.
Physically, you may notice that their pupils constrict and their breathing becomes shallow. An addicted child may seem disoriented and lose weight rapidly. As the addiction becomes worse, they may have tremors and stop caring about their personal appearance. They may withdraw from their normal social circles and act aggressively toward loved ones.
Financial and Personal Trouble Are a Sign They Need Opiate Addiction Help
If your daughter or son has a problem, you may start to notice that money and valuables are missing at home. Addicted individuals will use any available resources to get a fix, and they may begin to steal. You may notice that your child becomes secretive or lies about his or her habit. Addicted children may have frequent run-ins with the law. In addition, relationships become difficult to maintain because of their lies, manipulation and secretive behavior.
How to Help Your Child
Once you realize that your child needs opiate addiction help, the next step is to discuss the drug problem together as a family. Addicted children may become angry or defensive, so try to calmly bring up the subject. While many families try to keep the addiction a secret, it doesn’t help the situation. Addicted children need to accept their problem and get help. In addition, other family members need to know what is going on so that they can help and minimize the negative impact of an addiction. Learn ways to cope with an addict in order to help them get to where they need to be.
If your son or daughter has an opiate addiction, treatment options are available. We can help your child recover from his or her addiction and move on with life. Call Recovery in Motion at (866) 418-1070 to find out various treatment options.
