For Parents
Parents Group
This support group is held on Tuesday evenings from 5 - 7:00 and is facilitated by a licensed clinician. For more information, or to sign up, please call our Outpatient office and speak with Sandy at 874-1045, ext. 115 or email her at sandty@day-one.org.
Warning Signs For Parents
Day One has been a beacon of hope, healing and recovery to generations of young people as they navigate adolescence. As parents navigate that territory with their adolescent, Day One is there to help. There are many reasons why an adolescent might use drugs, including: to ease their pain, relieve boredom, feel good, take risks, satisfy their curiosity, feel grown-up, or to belong to a specific group.
Signs & Symptoms:
How can you tell if your teen is using drugs and alcohol? Look for physical changes and changes in behavior.
Physical Changes: Loss of appetite (but with a craving for sweets, called the ‘munchies’), sudden loss of weight, change in sleep patterns, extreme moodiness, reddened or watery eyes, dilated or pin-point pupils, occasional memory loss, slurred and slow speech, lack of energy, disturbed sleep patterns, chronic coughing and poor coordination including staggering or stumbling movements.
Behavior Changes: Change in school work, lack of commitment, skipping school, loss of interest and deterioration in quality of school work, drop in grades, change in friends, reluctance to introduce new friends, loss of enthusiasm, withdrawal from hobbies and sports, loss of interest in past activities/sports, becoming silent/withdrawn, staying away from home and/or school for unexplained periods, irritability and over-reaction to criticism, unusual request for money, devious and manipulative behavior, lack of pride in personal appearance, frequent unexplained phone calls and loss of concentration.
What Parents Can Do:
There are many things that parents can do to help keep their teens off drugs and alcohol, including:
- Talk to your kids
- Know who their friends are
- Teach your teens how to have fun without drinking or drugging
- Regularly help them with their homework
- Encourage your teen to seek your help on important decisions
- Eat dinner together as a family whenever possible
- Set limits
- Know where your kids are and what they are doing
- Be aware of dangerous household items and how much is in the bottle: whipped cream and aerosol cans, nail polish remover, hair spray, paint spray, cough medicine, correction fluid, gasoline, prescription drugs/medication, glue, cleaning fluids
Who to call for help:
If you suspect your teen is using drugs or alcohol, call our Outpatient office and speak with Sandy at 874-1045, ext. 115 or email her at sandyt@day-one.org.
