Here are some of the signs of drug use. these signs that don’t necessarily mean drug use for certain, but signs that should cause you concern, and may require you to investigate more formally.
- Dramatic changes in behavior. Teens will evolve throughout adolescence and you can expect some variations in behavior, but your teen is essentially still the person you know well, and dramatic shifts in personality are worrisome. If your normally placid kid becomes very aggressive, or your normally outgoing son becomes very withdrawn, you need to investigate why this is so.
- Rolling papers, pipes, a bong, roach clips, burnt spoons etc. Drug paraphernalia is a pretty good indicator of a problem, and once teens acquire drug taking accessories, you can be sure they’ve passed the initial experimentation stage of use.
- Incense. A lot of teens will develop an interest in cloying and perfuming incense as they attempt to cover up the smell of drugs. Incense in the bedroom or a smell on the clothes can be a warning sign of drug use. Also, mouth wash, air fresheners etc. Like incense, if your teen suddenly develops a need for scent masking agents, you might want to wonder why all of a sudden this is so.
- Teens can be a bit slow moving in the morning, but very unusual sleeping habits should cause some alarm. If your teen seems to stay awake for days on end, or sleeps for days on end, they may be using and recovering from drugs, most worryingly, Crystal Meth.
- Small burns on the thumb and forefinger; caused by smoking a joint down to the very end.
- Marijuana stickers or posters. A lot of teens like to advertise their usage and do so through stickers, pins on school bags and books, or through posters in the bedroom. A marijuana poster above the bed is a pretty good signs of an unhealthy interest in the drug. The code 420 always refers to marijuana smoking, and you can often see 420 stickers on teen school bags.
- Seemingly talking in code or in a secretive manner with friends.
- A sudden change in friends.
- A sudden need for more money.
- Signs of depression or isolation from the family.
- A sudden drop in academic performance. When your previously A and B teen becomes a C and D teen, something is going on.
- Your teen no longer participates in activities they used to find very enjoyable and rewarding.
- Appearing intoxicated, an obvious one, but a lot of parents tend to explain away odd behaviors with wishful thinking.
- Bottles of cough syrup or discarded prescription pill bottles found in their room or possessions indicate drug abuse.
- They don't seem motivated to accomplish any worthwhile goals. Normal healthy teens will have interests, passions and desires to accomplish. These desires may not be academic, and they may not be interests that you approve of, but most teens have interests and activities. If your teen doesn’t seem to have any, they may be abusing drugs or alcohol.
