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Suspect Your Teen is Using Drugs or Drinking?
Parents are sometines afraid that they will push their children away by talking
to them about drug use. You may be worried that your child will get into trouble with the law and that it may affect
his or her ability to qualify for scholarships or get a job. But kids who make a choice - one or more times - to use
drugs or alcohol are at a crossroads and need your help. The most important thing to remember is that it is never too early
or too late to take action regarding your kid's drug use. Parents are the most important part of a kid's life, your
action on their behalf can make a difference. There is much to gain and nothing to lose.
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How can you tell if your child is using alcohol or drugs? It is difficult
because changes in mood or attitudes, unusual temper outbursts, changes in sleep habits, changes in hobbies or other
interests are common in teens. These changes often signal something is going on and may involve alcohol or drugs.
What Should You Look For?
- Negative changes in schoolwork, missing school or declining grades.
- Increased secrecy about possessions or activities.
- Use of incense, room deoderant, or perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors.
- Subtle changes in conversations with friends, e.g.-more secretive using "coded" language.
- New friends.
- Change in clothing choices - new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use.
- Increase in borrowing money.
- Evidence of drug paraphernalia, such as pipes, rolling papers.
- Evidence of inhaling products and accessories, such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid, paper
bags, rags, and common household products.
- Bottles of eyedrops, which may be used to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils.
- New use of mouthwash or breath mints to cover up the smell of alcohol.
- Missing prescription drugs - especially narcotics and mood stabilizers.
- Lack of interest in personal appearance.
What Do You Do and When?
When you have a suspicion, what do you do? First, learn as much as you can.
Check out www.TheAntiDrug.com or www.freevibe.com for information on drug and alcohol use by teens. Or, you can call the National
Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information for free pamphelts and fact sheets. They'll even send the information
in a plain envelope, if you wish, for confidentiality. They can be reached at 1-800-788-2800. You can also come
by SCCADA and pick up information specific to teen drug and alcohol use.
The next thing you can do is sit down and talk with your child. Be sure to
have the conversation when all of you are calm and have plenty of time. This isn't an easy task. Your feelings
may range from anger to guilt, or you may feel you have "failed" because your child is using drugs. This isn't true.
By staying involved, you can help them stop using drugs and make choices that will make a positive difference in their lives.
Tell your child that you care for their well-being and this is why you are trying to get to the bottom of their problem.
Make if known that you found something that indicates drug use. Explain exactly how their behavior or appearance has
changed and why that worries you and affects the whole family. It is important to set clear ground rules in your family
about alcohol and drug use and let your child know that you will enforce these rules out of love and concern for them.
Setting a firm rule of no drug use will help your child resist peer and other pressures to use drugs.
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