Drug Addiction In Children

Children get easily impressed and influenced as they are nave, less experienced and cocooned by us. Hence they easily fall prey to the external pressures and create problem hampering their physical and mental activity. We routinely find changes in their attitudes in the form of lying, stealing etc. Usually we neglect and bypass the issue imagining it to be irrelevant and a one off case. This careless and negligent attitude of ours can cost us heavily in the long run.

Sometimes we are unaware of how to handle the situation and turn aggressive and abusive which further complicates the problem. A timely intervention by a child psychologist or a counselor may help both parents and children.

What Makes Children Prone To Drug Addiction?
Children get involved either due to pressure from friends, alienation with parents due to divorce and sexual or verbal abuse, bad performance in studies etc. A lot of problems are created by parents having high expectation from children and comparing them with others. Since the emotional faculties in children are unable to bear the brunt of our behavior towards them, it is essential to train ourselves before talking to them.

Parental neglect by not reciprocating to their gestures has a detrimental effect on their overall performance. The extreme is also true that too much of pampering by way of giving extra money, listening to all their whims may also create negative impact.

Children invariably get lured by the variety of fashionable items that are available in the stores. So it becomes a point of prestige to flaunt them in their circles. Hence they cultivate the habit of stealing, lying and ultimately the strength of money pushes them into the ditch of drug addiction.

How to Recognize Addiction in Children
Take notice of the performance in studies and activities of interest. If they neglect friends, evade direct questions, look dull and inattentive try to probe the cause.

Some children do not allow siblings and parent into their room which should raise suspicion.
A change in personality, sleeping habits and diet, tell-tale signs like odor from mouth and cloth are all indicative of addiction.

Treatment for Addiction in Children
Since physical, mental and social factors are involved, counseling for patient and parent is a necessity. If the problem is detected at the earliest then the antidote medicines can be easily advocated. Sometimes the child is not affected to that extent and few sessions of counseling and medication suffice. Residential treatment is given for severely addicted children. Here group counseling and discussion help children who seek emotional support.