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When a person is addicted to drugs, it affects their brain and behavior in a multitude of negative ways. Before you can begin to help your child, it's important that you try to understand their problem so you can relate to them and understand what they need a little better.  Drugs increase the level of dopamine in the brain, which triggers feeling of pleasure. The brain wants to repeat these feelings of euphoria, which is how the drugs become addictive. Because of chemical changes to the brain, the person finds it very difficult to quit even when he is ready to do so. These changes to the brain also impair the person's perception of their own behavior and makes them think that they are in control of their problem. Over time, drug intake becomes as essential for the person as eating and drinking - their cravings start to dominate all other areas of their lives. Long-term use leads to issues like cognitive impairment, poor judgment and irrational thoughts. Don’t wait for the things to settle down on their own, if you suspect that your child has a drug problem, it's important to intervene as early as possible and get them the help they need.  Signs that your child may have a drug problem include: behavioral changes, sleep disturbances, secretive behavior, demand for privacy, dropping grades, hostility, angry outbursts, absence from home with places, new friends Try to talk to your child and get them to admit that they have a problem. Rather than being angry, let them know that you are there for them and just want to help them get through it. If you find that your child has a problem with drugs, be aware that you won't be able to solve the problem just by making your child go cold turkey. There are other issues that need to be addressed:  Your child needs to change the way he thinks about himself. His friends and company should be changed. The friends and group that he is keeping presently might be a major reason behind his addiction and hostility. Your child's stress management skills need improvement. You will need to find healthy ways for your child to handle their stress, rather than turning to drugs. Make sure your child's free time is spent in some useful activity. Give him a task or project to complete. Hopefully he will learn how to gain satisfaction from hard work and effort, instead of looking for instant gratification. Encourage your child to change their lifestyle and preferences. Help them to make new connections and abandon old ones that support addiction. Denial is the first and foremost thing that is encountered by families when they try to get their teenager through a drug abuse problem. In order to help your child to overcome denial and deal with their addiction you have to follow some simple steps:  Seek counseling for your child from a psychiatrist or through a counselor at a rehab center, as they can address the specific problems associated with seeking treatment. Help the child realize what his or her condition is before and after using drugs. This will help them to understand how necessary it is to seek treatment. Help the child to accept the challenge to change and encourage them to lead a normal and healthy life. Remind them of the dreams and goals that they had before the drug problem and push them to get back on this healthy track.
Be aware of the influence of drug addiction on the brain. Intervene as early as possible. Know what needs to change. Help your child to understand why treatment is important.