Suspect Your Child Is Using Drugs

By C. Lowry

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How can you tell if your child is using drugs? It is difficult because changes in mood or attitudes, unusual temper outbursts, changes in sleeping habits, changes in hobbies or other interests are common in teens. These changes often signal that something troubling is going on and may involve alcohol or drugs.

Signs and Symptoms:

1. Negative changes in schoolwork; missing school or declining grades.
2. Increased secrecy about possessions or activities.
3. Use of incense, room deodorant or perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors.
4. Subtle changes in conversations with friends, e.g., more secretive, using coded language.
5. New friends.
6. Change in clothing choices — new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use.
7. Increase in borrowing money.
8. Evidence of drug paraphernalia, such as pipes, rolling papers.
9. Evidence of inhaling products and accessories, such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid, paper bags and rags, common household products.
10. Bottles of eyedrops, which may be used to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils.
11. New use of mouthwash or breath mints to cover up the smell of alcohol.
12. Missing prescription drugs — especially narcotics and mood stabilizers.

These changes often signal that something troubling is going on and may involve alcohol or drugs.