Teen Drug Use Warning Signs and Advice

There are lots of different drugs available to today's teens. So while a parent may assume "glassy eyes" are the most common indication of drug use, not all drugs have that side effect. So it's important to know about the most common warning signs that could signal your teen is experimenting with drugs.

Here are just a few potential red flags to be on the look out for:

Signs in the Home

loss of interest in family activities
disrespect for family rules
withdrawal from responsibilities
verbally or physically abusive
sudden increase or decrease in appetite
disappearance of valuable items or money
breaking curfew
not telling you where they are going
constant excuses for behavior
spending a lot of time in their rooms
lies about activities
finding the following: cigarette rolling papers, pipes, roach clips, small glass vials, plastic baggies, remnants of drugs (seeds, etc.)

Signs at School

sudden drop in grades
truancy or always being late to school
loss of interest in learning
sleeping in class
poor work performance
not doing homework
defiant of authority
poor attitude toward sports or other extracurricular activities
reduced memory and attention span
not informing you of teacher meetings, open houses, etc.

Physical and Emotional Signs

changes friends
smell of alcohol or marijuana on breath or body

unexplainable mood swings and behavior
negative, argumentative, paranoid or confused, destructive, anxious
over-reacts to criticism acts rebellious
sharing few if any of their personal problems
doesn't seem as happy as they used to be
overly tired or hyperactive
drastic weight loss or gain
unhappy and depressed

cheats, steals
always needs money, or has excessive amounts of money
sloppiness in appearance

Parents, Don't Dismiss the Warning Signs

It can be tempting to minimize or dismiss the warning signs sometimes. And almost every potential red flag can likely be explained away by something else.

And certainly, not every teen who does something on this list is going to be doing drugs, but every teen who does drugs does things on this list. If you find that some of these warning signs fit your teen, take a look at the whole picture.

Become more involved and find out what he's doing, where he's going and who he's with. A closer look at your teen's daily activities will give you further clues into whether there's a reason for concern.