Sudden anger, increasing secrecy, changing friends, or demanding money without an apparent reason—no single sign confirms the use of drugs, but if several changes are consistently visible, parents should not step back from a conversation.
A teenager starts staying awake late at night. The room’s door remains closed more than before. The child who used to talk openly about school now answers most questions in one or two words. Friends change, old interests diminish, and no clear reason is found for their demands for money. At such times, the first thought parents often have is—”This is just the effect of age.”
Sometimes this is absolutely true. Mood swings in adolescence, wanting more privacy, changing friendships, and creating some distance from parents can be a normal part of development. But if multiple changes in a child’s behavior occur at the same time, persist continuously, and are clearly different from the child’s usual nature, then ignoring them is not right. The most important thing is that no single behavior confirms the use of drugs. The real concern arises not from any single sign, but from a pattern of change.
Every outburst of anger or isolation is not a sign of addiction
Sleeping late, irritability, spending more time in their room, or making new friends is not in itself a sign of addiction. Study pressure, exams, tension in friendships, bullying, or other emotional problems can also change a child’s behavior. But if a child who previously took an interest in sports or a hobby suddenly distances themselves from them; performance in school starts to drop; there is a lack of clarity about the time spent outside the house; the friend group suddenly changes; there is a major change in sleep and eating routines, or the need for money increases without a clear reason—then parents should try to carefully understand the situation.
In some cases, physical changes can also be seen, such as excessive lethargy, unusual nervousness or restlessness, lack of coordination, redness of the eyes, neglect of personal hygiene, or a sudden change in weight. But none of these symptoms alone proves that the child is using drugs. For example, red eyes can also be due to a lack of sleep, and weight loss might be caused by some other health problem. Therefore, the focus should be on persistent and collective changes appearing together, rather than on any single sign.
Why is this even more important in Punjab?
In Punjab, the concern regarding the drug problem has not remained limited to political statements. A state-level household survey conducted by PGI Chandigarh (PGIMER) included 13,925 people from 6,398 households in Punjab. According to the study, 14.7 percent of the study group aged 11 to 60 years met the criteria for dependence on some substance in the past 12 months. The study also showed that the number of people seeking professional help was limited. These statistics do not mean that every Punjabi teenager showing a change in behavior is at risk of addiction. But they certainly indicate that if concerning changes are consistently visible in a child, it can be crucial for the family to talk to them in a timely manner and seek expert help if needed.
In the Punjab government’s ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign, emphasis is being laid on prevention, early identification, treatment, and rehabilitation, alongside cutting off the supply and taking action against smuggling. In June 2026, Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh stated that between March 2025 and May 2026, more than 90,000 people were admitted for treatment in de-addiction and OOAT centers in Punjab.
This is not just Punjab’s problem
Research from other parts of India regarding drug use among teenagers also points to a concern.
A study published in the ‘National Medical Journal of India’ included 5,920 school students from 10 cities. The study gathered information on the use of various substances including tobacco, alcohol, opioids, cannabis, and inhalants. The research also documented the relationship between substance use and certain behavioral and emotional difficulties.
This does not mean that emotional difficulties necessarily cause drug use. The matter is more complex than this. Family environment, peer influence, school connectedness, mental health, and peer pressure—all these factors can intertwine with each other during adolescence. That is why protection from drugs doesn’t just happen by telling the child that “drugs are bad.”
The most important question for parents: Is the child struggling with something?
Sometimes the use of drugs can start out of curiosity or peer pressure. But some youths can also turn to the wrong path to cope with study pressure, bullying, loneliness, family tension, or other emotional difficulties. This does not mean justifying the use of drugs. It means understanding that getting to the root of the problem is not always possible just through punishment or scolding. A supportive family environment, a strong relationship with parents, open communication, appropriate boundaries, and school connectedness can be important protective factors for teenagers. This also does not mean that parents should monitor every activity of the child. Respecting the child’s privacy and their growing independence while knowing which friends they hang out with, what is happening in school, and whether any major change has occurred in their life—this is part of healthy family care.
Conversation first, not blame
If parents feel that something has changed in the child, the first question doesn’t necessarily have to be “Are you doing drugs?”. Instead, the conversation can be started something like this:
“You don’t seem like your usual self lately. Is everything alright? Is something bothering you?” Such a question gives the child space to share their feelings. In contrast, immediately accusing or threatening them can make them shut down even more.
Punjab’s Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh has also appealed to families to pay attention to changes in children’s behavior and to deal with them empathetically. His message is that through “care, empathy, and communication,” children can be supported before they head towards addiction.
Do not turn every suspicion into an investigation
Vigilance regarding the danger of drugs is necessary, but an overly suspicious attitude can also cause harm. Every teenager will get angry at some point. Every child can change friends. Someone will spend more time in their room, and someone will ask for more independence from their parents. The parents’ job is not to become detectives. Their job is to recognize when normal teenage behavior becomes persistently linked with unusual or several other concerning changes. If the suspicion is valid, instead of drawing conclusions on their own, talking to a doctor, psychiatrist, or addiction professional is a better route.
Early help means more options
The thought that “we will seek treatment only when things get really bad” can be harmful in the case of youth. If a family feels that a child is struggling with drugs, mental stress, or any other serious problem, the sooner the conversation and expert advice begin, the more options are available. The focus of the anti-drug campaign in Punjab is also increasing in this direction. Along with focusing on prevention, early identification, treatment, and rehabilitation, the role of families and communities is also being given importance.
Finally, a single change in a child is not proof of drug addiction. But when anger, isolation, secrecy, sudden changes in friends, a decline in studies, an unexplained demand for money, and major changes in routine are consistently seen together, then brushing it off by just calling it a “teenage mood” is also not right. Sometimes the first and most important help does not start with any major treatment, but with a simple question—
“What happened? I am here to listen to you.”
For help regarding mental health or emotional distress, India’s Tele-MANAS service is available 24×7 at 14416 or 1800-891-4416.
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