Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drugs
What is it?
There’s no easy way to figure out if your teen is using drugs or alcohol. Many of the signs and symptoms of teen substance abuse listed below are also, at times, typical adolescent behavior. Many are also symptoms of mental health issues, including depression or anxiety disorders.
If you’ve are concerned, don’t be afraid to come right out and ask your teen direct questions like “Have you been offered drugs?” If yes, “What did you do?” or “Have you been drinking or using drugs?” While no parent wants to hear a “yes” response to these questions, be prepared for it. Decide in advance how you’ll respond to a “yes.” Make sure you reassure your child that you’re looking out for him or her, and that you only want the best for his or her future. If you have questions or aren’t sure what to say, consider talking to your school chemical health specialist.
What does it look like?
While none of these are definitive signs of chemical use, look for some of the following:
Personal Appearance
- Lack of caring for appearance
- Poor hygiene
- Red, flushed cheeks or face
- Track marks on arms or legs (or long sleeves in warm weather to hide marks)
- Burns or soot on fingers or lips (from “joints” or “roaches” burning down)
Personal Habits or Actions
- Smell of smoke or other unusual smells on breath or on clothes
- Chewing gum or mints to cover up breath
- Heavy use of over-the-counter preparations to reduce eye reddening, nasal irritation, or bad breath
- Frequently breaks curfew
- Cash flow problems
- Avoiding eye contact
- Locked doors
- Going out every night
- Secretive phone calls/text messages
- “Munchies” or sudden appetite
Behavioral Issues Associated with Teen Substance Abuse
- Change in relationships with family members or friends
- Loss of inhibitions
- Mood changes or emotional instability
- Loud, obnoxious behavior
- Laughing at nothing, unusually elated
- Unusually clumsy, stumbling, lack of coordination, poor balance
- Sullen, withdrawn, depressed
- Unusually tired
- Silent, uncommunicative
- Hostility, anger, uncooperative behavior
- Deceitful or secretive
- Decreased motivation
- Unable to speak intelligibly, slurred speech, or rapid-fire speech
- Inability to focus
- Hyperactivity
- Periods of sleeplessness or high energy, followed by long periods of “catch up” sleep
- Disappearances for long periods of time
Issues Related to School or Work
- Truancy or loss of interest in schoolwork
- Loss of interest in extracurricular activities, hobbies, or sports
- Failure to fulfill responsibilities at school or work
- Complaints from teachers or co-workers
Issues Related to Home or Car
- Disappearance of prescription pills or over-the-counter pills
- Missing alcohol or cigarettes
- Disappearance of money or valuables
- Smell in the car in bottles, pipes, or bongs on floor or in glove box
- Appearance of unusual containers, wrappers or seeds
- Appearance of unusual drug apparatuses, including pipes, rolling papers, small medicine bottles, eye drops, butane lighters, or makeshift smoking devices like bongs made out of toilet paper rolls and aluminum foil
- Hidden stashes of alcohol
What can you do?
How to talk to your child about alcohol and drugs
Are you wondering how to talk to your child about alcohol and drugs? Searching for the right words can be tricky. It is important for parents to be prepared to talk to children of any age about the dangers of alcohol and drug use. This is a helpful guide with age-appropriate advice from preschool through college.
http://www.drugfree.org/Parent/YourChild/
Should you snoop?
One of the biggest challenges for parents is whether to search their child’s room. However, most prevention experts agree that snooping can help keep your children safe, if you suspect your child is drinking or using drugs. Searching your child’s room should be a decision you are able to defend. Your child needs to understand that the limits you set with them do not stop at their bedroom door.
If you have decided not to tell your child about the search, be prepared to explain your reasons to them if she catches you mid-search. Let your child know that you are doing it out of concern for his or her health and safety.
Kids come up with some crafty places to conceal alcohol, drugs, and drug paraphernalia. Here’s a short list of some possible hiding spots:
- Dresser drawers beneath or between clothes
- Desk drawers
- CD/DVD/tape/video cases
- Small boxes – jewelry, pencil, etc.
- Backpacks/duffle bags
- Under a bed
- In a plant, buried in the dirt
- In between books on a bookshelf
- Inside books with pages cut out
- Makeup cases – inside fake lipstick tubes or compacts
- Under a loose plank in floor boards
- Inside over-the-counter medicine containers (Tylenol, Advil, etc)
- Inside empty candy bags such as M&Ms or Skittles
You may also decide to search your teen’s cell phone speed dial list, or instant message buddy lists on the computer, for names you haven’t heard of before. Ask your teen about any names you don’t recognize.
If you find something suspicious don’t dance around the topic. Ask your child about the items you found. He or she might try to fight back by saying your search was unfair and that you found things the wrong way by invading his privacy. Stand by your decision to search his room and ignore the argument. Remember, there is difference between privacy and secrecy.
Guide to common drugs of abuse
Find something that you are unable to identify? Check out this guide to 13 of the most common drugs of abuse.
http://www.timetotalk.org/Downloads/ttt_drug_chart.pdf
Where do I go for help?
Many parents find it helpful to discuss their concerns with a trusted friend, spiritual leader or medical/health professional. Another resource to consider is you’re the Chemical Health team at Eden Prairie Schools. Conversations are kept confidential so parents can discuss concerns and gather information regarding next steps as well as resources for help in the Eden Prairie community.
Eden Prairie Schools Prevention Team
- Michael Stanefski – 952.975.7048
- Kaylene Billington – 952.975.8075
For more information
Time to Act: If you suspect or know your child is using drugs or alcohol, it is important to take action right away. Visit this website for more information on what to do and say.
http://timetoact.drugfree.org/
Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain: New discoveries about adolescent brain development provide insights about teens and risky behaviors as well as new ideas and tips on what parents can say and do when talking with their teens about the risks of drugs and alcohol.
http://www.drugfree.org/teenbrain/
A.A. Meetings: A directory of Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in the Minneapolis metropolitan area.
http://www.aaminneapolis.org/pages/meeting/LocationIndex.asp
Al-anon/Alateen Meetings: A directory of Al-Anon/Alateen meetings for friends and family of alcoholics in the Minneapolis metropolitan area.