Teenage Drug Abuse

Warning Signs for Parents

Young people often display remarkable changes in normal behavior when drug use begins. Family, friends and others important in a teen’s life will begin to see changes in their everyday behavior. Behavioral changes can be attributed to many factors, such as hormonal changes, interest in the opposite sex, development of a new hobby, or new interests in general. These changes, however, are considered to be normal and healthy teen behaviors. Other issues, such as depression or other mental illnesses can lead to sudden and alarming changes in a teen’s behavior. It is important to keep a finger on the pulsed of your teen’s development, and note any and all changes in day to day behavior.

Drug use often manifests itself in the overall behaviors of teens that use. Sudden and violent shifts in attitude, interests and overall behavior is a clear sign of a more insidious problem.

How Drug Abuse Affects Teens

Teenage drug users make friends with your teen Changes in friends. Sudden distancing from long time healthy relationships toward new and otherwise strange friends. Older crowds or less motivated peers can indicate a move toward a drug related crowd. A clear indicator is a drastic change in playgrounds and playmates, often toward clearly less desirable people and places. Sudden interest in a church youth group or joining marching band is obviously not of concern. Getting busted at a RAVE is.

Negative changes in schoolwork, missing school, or declining grades. Not all teens are straight A students to begin with, so indicators such as less scholastic motivation can be a leading sign. Hooky, apathy and disrespect are clear signs that something is up.

Increased secrecy about possessions or activities. Hiding objects or unusual secret activities often indicate drug use. Some degree of modesty is always present in teens with regard to things like crushes, friend problems, or other normal behaviors. Hiding things is a different matter. Locks on bedroom doors or boxes indicate that a teen is hiding something, and that something is probably bad.

Use of incense, room deodorant, or perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors. Know what pot smells like — then there is no room for doubt. If you don’t know what pot smells like, ask a cop to help locate a class that includes a controlled urn of marijuana. Once you smell it, there is no room for doubt. Be conscious of all unusual odors.

Subtle changes in conversations with friends, e.g. more secretive, using “coded” language. Code words such as “420” become commonplace among young users. Common and repetitive references to unusual or unknown activities can indicate covert activities involving drug use. Make your teen accountable by asking what they mean. If you are not satisfied with the answer then ask a Police Officer or someone who works closely with youth populations about teen vernacular. Also, the Office of National Drug Control Policy Website contains database of more than 2,300 street terms referring to specific drug types or drug activity.

Change in clothing choices or new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use. Slogans, pot leaves, or any symbols that glorify drug use are often indicators of acceptance of the drug sub-culture. Watch what your kids are wearing and be familiar with the current sub-culture trends. Unusual fixation with pop culture icons can be a clear indicator as well. Although piercing, tattoos, and gothic dress can indicate immersion into the drug culture, less obvious clothing can also be an indicator.

Increase in borrowing money, or stealing. This is a clear indication that your teen obviously needs more money for something, and that is most likely drugs.

Evidence of drug paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers, etc. Clear evidence of drug use is indicated by possession of the tools necessary to ingest drugs. Be aware of things like papers and pipes. Needles are not the only tools of a junkie.

Evidence of use of inhalant products (such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid, common household products). Rags and paper bags are sometimes used as accessories. There have been cases of teens huffing as many as 50 cans of household chemicals such as air freshener a month. Huffing produces a very short but damaging high which needs immediate re-use to continue. Huffing of common items is almost always a gateway to broader drug experimentation.

Bottles of eye drops, which may be used to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils. Many drugs such a marijuana produce bloodshot eyes and dilation. Unless medically indicated, most teens do not require repeated of eye drops.

New use of mouthwash or breath mints to cover up the smell of alcohol. Most teens will brush their teeth at least occasionally. Abnormal attention to oral hygiene is a clear indicator that a teen is covering something.

Missing prescription drugs—especially narcotics and mood stabilizers. Prescription narcotics and mood drugs produce a very desirable high to a user. Medical professionals routinely prescribe powerful drug agents, and do so with specific intent. Prescription drugs should only be taken by the person to whom they are prescribed. Any and all use of such medications by your teen should be considered clear evidence of a drug problem.