Drugs, Alcohol and Your Teen

Questions To Ask Yourself If You Suspect Drug Use

Could your teen be using or abusing drugs or alcohol?

1. Have my teen's group of friends changed suddenly?
2. Does my teen receive phone calls from people I've never heard of before?
3. Is he irritable?
4. Is he having trouble concentrating?
5. Is he getting into fights at school?
6. Have you heard that he is falling asleep in class?
7. Is he cutting school a lot?
8. Have his grades fallen?
9. Is he hostile for no reason?
10. Is he giddy? Depressed?
11. Are liquor, prescription drugs, cash and valuables missing?
12. Is your teen unable to get along with family members to an unusual extent?
13. Is he burning incense in his room?
14. Are his eyes red and irritated?
15. Does he use eye drops often?
16. Do you smell liquor on his breath?
17. Does he have frequent nosebleeds?
18. Does he complain of chronic indigestion or of memory lapses?

If you've answered yes to any of the above, consult your physician.

If Your Child Is Using Drugs

If you have determined that your child already has begun to use drugs or drink, you and your child need seek out help from a professional counselor or a drug and alcohol intervention service. If he or she has not yet made such a choice to use drugs or alcohol, you need to do the best you can to prevent this choice.

As a parent, you cannot follow your teen everywhere, and monitor their every move. However, there are ways that you can ensure that your child will make the correct choices:

1) Communicate with them. Kids who have good communication with their parents have a better chance of avoiding substance abuse. Families with good communication talk honestly and openly about their feelings and about such problems as peer pressure, teen pregnancy and drugs.

2) Show your teen that you trust them. Teens who do not use or abuse drugs usually feel that their parents love them and trust them. They have had a say in family rules and have been allowed to make choices appropriate to their ages and abilities.

3) Don't nag them. If you constantly nag or make unfounded accusations, your child may feel that you neither love nor trust him. Teens need to hear you say that you worry because you love them, not because you don't trust them. Expect the best, not the worst.

4) Get involved. Parents should make an effort to obtain clear, factual information about drugs and alcohol. Written information is widely available through schools, churches, libraries and the PTA. Read articles or pamphlets together and discuss them as a family, if possible.

5) Pass down your values. Share your concerns and values, but let your teen know that you believe he or she can make responsible, healthy choices in their own best interest.