Sometimes it's hard to tell if your teen is using alcohol or
drugs. Parents may worry that their teens are
involved with drugs or alcohol if they become withdrawn or negative. But these
behaviors are common for teens going through challenging times.
It's important not to
accuse your teen unfairly. Try to find out why your teen's behavior has
changed. Tell him or her that you are concerned.
Experts
recommend that parents look for a pattern or a number of changes in appearance,
behavior, and attitude, not just one or two of the changes listed here.
Change in appearance
·
Less attention paid to dressing and grooming
·
Loss of appetite or unexplained weight
loss
·
Red and glassy eyes and
frequent use of eyedrops and breath mints
Change in behavior
·
Decreased attendance and performance at school
·
Loss of interest in school, sports, or other activities
·
Newly developed secrecy, or deceptive or sneaky behavior
·
Withdrawal from family and friends
·
New friends and reluctance to introduce them
·
Lying or stealing
Change in attitude
·
Disrespectful behavior
·
A mood or attitude that is getting worse
·
Lack of concern about the future
Taking action
Any
use of alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs in childhood or the teen years is a
problem, unless it turns out to be a one-time event. If you suspect or see
signs that your teen is using substances, check it out. Don't wait for it to
become a big problem.
A
home drug screening
test provides
immediate, early information about whether a urine sample contains drugs such
as amphetamine,cocaine,
and marijuana.
But it does not show which drug has been used, and some tests are inaccurate.
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