Signs of drug use in a teenager or adult and what to do

The clearest sign that a teenager or adult is using drugs is not one change but a combination: sudden new friends and secrecy, lies, missing money or belongings, disrupted sleep and appetite, changes in pupils or speech. If you see this, don't wait and don't interrogate: gather the facts, talk calmly and get professional advice. If you see signs of an overdose, call emergency services at once — in Israel, 101.

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Signs of drug use in a teenager or adult

A sudden change of friends, new people they won't tell you anything about
Lies and secrecy: a locked door, passwords on everything, disappearing at night
Money, valuables or medicines from the family cabinet go missing
Big mood swings: from excited and talkative to sluggish and flat
Disrupted routine: awake all night or sleeping all day, eating a lot or barely at all
Very small or very large pupils, red eyes, slurred speech, an unfamiliar smell
Falling grades or work performance, losing interest in sport and hobbies
Odd finds: foil, straws, syringes, small zip bags, unfamiliar pills

What parents and loved ones can do

What to do

Write down the facts: what, when, how much money went missing — facts are harder to deny
Talk when they are sober, one to one, from a place of care: "I can see… and I'm scared for you"
With a teenager: agree on one line with the other parent, and set clear rules and consequences
If your child is under 18, the decision to get help is yours — don't wait for them to be "ready"
Limit access to cash and valuables, and remove medicines that could be misused from the house
Get a family consultation — before the conversation, not after a blow-up

What not to do

Don't interrogate or shout — a teenager will shut down, an adult will deny everything
Don't hand over money "for food" or "to pay someone back", and don't pay off their debts
Don't hide the problem from the other parent or your partner
Don't tell yourself "it's just a phase" — experimenting can turn into addiction
Don't threaten the police or throwing them out unless you are ready to follow through

How drug addiction is treated

Treatment starts with a medical assessment: which substances, for how long, and whether there are other mental health problems such as depression, anxiety or psychosis. Then comes detox, usually 5 to 14 days depending on the substance, under medical supervision. At IsraRehab the medical side — detox, psychiatry and prescriptions — is handled by licensed staff under our medical director, a psychiatrist.

Detox is not treatment. It is preparation for treatment. Next comes an inpatient programme of 30 to 90 days or longer, built on the Full Return Method: cognitive behavioural therapy teaches the person to recognise triggers, existential work answers the question of what to stay clean for, and the 12-step programme gives a community for years to come. The body recovers through exercise, sleep and nutrition.

With teenagers and young adults, what happens at home and around them matters even more: old friends, free time, school or college. So parents do their own part of the work — rules, boundaries, how to talk — and after discharge we help the young person back into study or work.

After the programme comes at least 12 months of aftercare. A relapse doesn't mean everything was wasted: what matters is getting back to the plan quickly, understanding what led to it and strengthening the weak spot.

Consultations for families →

What to do when your husband drinks, your son uses, and every attempt to help only makes it worse.

Treatment at IsraRehab ↗

If detox or inpatient care is needed, treatment takes place at the licensed IsraRehab centre under medical supervision.

The Full Return Method →

Overdose signs: when to call an ambulance

They don't respond, can't be woken, or breathing is slow, noisy or irregular — call emergency services (101 in Israel); if they are breathing, put them on their side and stay with them
Blue or grey lips and fingertips, pinpoint pupils — a possible opioid overdose
Chest pain, very high temperature, seizures or extreme agitation after stimulants
Psychosis: hallucinations, paranoia, aggression, danger to themselves or others
Talk of suicide, goodbye messages, giving belongings away

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if my teenager is using drugs?

Look for a combination of signs, not just one: new friends and secrecy, missing money, mood swings, disrupted sleep, changes in pupils, falling grades. Teenage moodiness on its own isn't a diagnosis, but if several signs appear and last for weeks, it's time to talk and get advice.

What should I do if I find drugs in my child's room?

Don't explode on the spot. Calm down, agree on an approach with the other parent and talk when your child is sober: about what you found, about your fear and about the rules that now apply. Then get professional advice and, if needed, a medical assessment.

My adult son uses drugs and refuses treatment — what can I do?

You can't force an adult, but you can stop supporting the drug use — with money, unconditional housing or cover stories. A family consultation helps you set boundaries, and if needed we prepare an intervention: a conversation after which the person agrees to treatment.

Can someone fully recover from drug addiction?

Addiction is a chronic condition, but lasting recovery is real: many of the people I have worked with have lived drug-free for years. The key is not to stop at detox — a full programme, family work and at least 12 months of aftercare.

Is it confidential?

Completely. Information about your family is not shared with anyone — not the school, not an employer. The only exception is a direct threat to life. The first consultation is free.

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