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The Signs And Symptoms Of Addiction

The Signs And Symptoms Of Addiction

America’s addiction to harmful substances has been an issue for the better part of the last 100 years. However, so far  in the 21st century, our nation’s addiction to drugs has increasing gotten worse with each passing year. Needless to say, in today’s America, our nation’s drug dependency has culminated to legitimately epidemic proportions.

Unfortunately, our nation’s unprecedented drug addiction issues have greatly affected its youth like no other time in history. For further proof of this one need look no further than the troubling statistics regarding teenage drug abuse. According to recent national statistics, 90% of students admit they have used marijuana, while 9% and 7%  admit to having abused cocaine and ecstacy, respectively.

While these numbers may sound alarming, they pale in comparison to American  teenagers’ affinity for prescription painkillers, which currently stands at a staggering 24%. When you consider that opioid abuse accounted for 30,000 fatalities in America in 2017 alone,  these numbers are exponentially more worrisome.

Turning Winds Academy is a troubled teen boarding school is made up of a staff-community that is made up of professionals who specialize in both academic and therapeutic treatments.Together, both academic and therapeutic staff are  focused on helping teens overcome their underlying issues and self destructive tendencies to a path of engaged, productive, and healthy living.

So, What Are Parents Of Teens To Do?

When it comes to treating addiction, early intervention is paramount. In other words, the earlier a person receives treatment for their addiction the more likely  they will be able to successfully overcome said addictive issues.

For parents, being able to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug addiction in their teenage son or daughter can mean the difference between their child engaging in self-sabotaging behavior – which can be effectively treated with a combination of residential treatment and traditional counseling – and their son or daughter suffering from a lifelong, potentially fatal, addiction.

At Turning Winds, we fully appreciate the hardships parents face when their child suffers  from addiction of any kind. In fact, it is this appreciation of familial crises between parents and troubled teens that has allowed us to become one of the nation’s premiere troubled teen residential treatment facilities.

However, our assistance is not limited to helping parents and teens who are able to take advantage of our residential treatment facility. Rather, we at Turning Winds Academy wholeheartedly believe in providing our expertise and knowledge to every parent our site is able to reach.

With that said, the following lists were created to assist parents of troubled teens with recognizing the symptoms of drug addiction, as well as what can be done in the event that they discover their child is, in fact, addicted to a harmful substance(s). After all, knowledge is the key to overcoming any obstacle in life, including that of one as precarious and life threatening as teenage drug addiction.   

The Physical, Emotional, And Behavioral Symptoms Of Addiction:

Physical symptoms of a drug addicted teen  are usually the easiest for parents to notice. The following is a list of physical symptoms or ‘red flags’  that may indicate that a child is habitually using drugs. If your child displays several of the following physical symptoms, seek immediate professional help.

Physical Signs/Symptoms Of Addiction:

  • Pale complexion
  • Weight loss/ weight gain (depending on the drug)
  • Extreme change in eating habits
  • Dilated pupils
  • Repetitive speech patterns
  • Unusually talkative
  • Uncharacteristically distant from friends and family
  • Excessive sniffling and running nose
  • Unusually unhygienic
  • Uncharacteristically messy appearance

The following is a list of behavioral signs that could indicate drug/alcohol addiction. Seek immediate professional help if your child has recently begun to  display any of the following behaviors

Behavioral Signs/Symptoms Of Addiction :

  • Cuts class and fails to meet usual academic expectations
  • Neglects typically met responsibilities and engagements
  • Isolates from the rest of the world (spending unusual amount of time alone in room etc.)
  • Experiencing difficulty sleeping
  • Sleeping too much
  • Has uncharacteristic difficulty with maintaining, building relationships
  • Acts  on compulsive and brash behaviors, criminal or otherwis

Similar to behavioral symptoms, emotional ‘red flags’ are not as easy to notice as ones that are physical. However, parents who take the time to pay attention to their child’s emotional state should be able to notice the following Emotional signs/symptoms that may indicate their child is suffering from addiction related issue

Emotional Signs/Symptoms Of Addiction:

  • Appears to be more irritable or short tempered than usual
  • Has immense difficulty with dealing with stress
  • Displays uncharacteristic obnoxious/silly behaviors  
  • Becomes easily confused over typically well-understood situations
  • Over rationalizes their reasons for displaying uncharacteristic emotions
  • Continuously blames others for their problems/behavior/unpleasant emotions on others
  • Constantly changes the subject when drug abuse/experimentation/addiction is brought up in conversation.  

Turning Winds is accredited by two of the most recognized respected secondary academic accrediting bodies in the United States. We are fully accredited by Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC). Our teen boarding school accepts children between the ages of 13 and 18. Turning Winds, a specialty private boarding school, can accept enrollment of approximately 45 students. The entire program averages approximately 12 months.

Additional Topic Resources

Benchmark Transitions

“We transform the lives of young men and women age 18-28 struggling with emotional, clinical, behavioral, and addiction issues.”

Sustain Recovery

Sustain Recovery

“Gender Separate Adolescent Extended Care Services”

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