Sign: My Child Just Doesn't Seem Right
"One day I was looking at my daughter and thought - who is this person? Her behavior has become strange and unpredictable. She acts as if her family doesn't exist. I can list all the things - but really in the end it's just that she doesn't seem right. She isn't the same person anymore."
Taken together with other signs - you get this one larger picture: a teen who just doesn't seem right. Trust your instincts. While it might not be drugs that are influencing these changes, you should not ignore them or assume they will simply "go away" in time. The worst thing a parent can do is ignore their strong sense that something is wrong and let the teen act however they please. Talk to the teen's teachers and others who know him or her. If you get a general consensus that something is off, take action and seek professional advice.
"Adolescents are particularly at risk of adverse reactions from hallucinogen use as they enter puberty, a time of rapid physical and emotional changes. Hallucinogens are particularly dangerous because the effects are so unpredictable. They can cause violent behavior in some and suicidal tendencies in others. As memory, perception, and judgment are clouded under the influence, users are at risk of severe injuries, overdose, and death from drowning, burns, falls, and car accidents. Sometimes, hallucinogen use can uncover severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia or severe depression." Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
