How to look for sign your child may be using drugs or alcohol

Pre teen and teen years can be challenging. It is frightening to think of all the things your child is doing without your knowledge. Drugs and alcohol are a great concern for many parents.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. These are the typical signs to look for:
2. Significant change in mood: Either increase in excitability, anxiety, agitation, happiness or sadness.
3. Change in sleep pattern: Staying up too late, waking up very early, sleeping too late, waking up in the night.
4. Change in friends: New group of friends, friends you have not met or are not allowed to meet
5. Change in behavior: Non compliance with rules at home or school. Not going to school, late to school, refusal to come home on time or at all. Increase in sneaky behavior or lies.
6. Looks,smells, acts high or drunk. Loss of coordination, desire to go to room or bathroom right away. Remember, if your child has taken pills, he/she will not smell like a substance.
7. What to do: Prevention: Have talk about substances before they begin to use. Talk about dangers. Remeber, you do not have to discuss your own experiences to be effective.
   If you are concerned: Talk to your child calmly (when they are not under influence). Explain dangers and your concern. Let them know you will be watching and if you are still concerned, you will seek professional assistance.
8. If you feel it is serious or need assistnce, contact your local hospital or clinic to see if you are able to scedule an assessment for services. Many agencies offer a free assessmnet of screening to determine clinical needs.

Tips & Warnings

• It is usually better to be safe than sorry. Trust your instincts.