Teens Health & Safety Teen Drug Use Warning Signs Parents Need to Know the Signs of Teen Drug Abuse By Amy Morin, LCSW facebook twitter instagram Amy Morin, LCSW, is the Editor-in-Chief of Verywell Mind. She's also a psychotherapist, international bestselling author and host of the Mentally Strong People podcast. Learn about our editorial process Amy Morin, LCSW Fact checked by Fact checked by Sean Blackburn on December 01, 2020 linkedin Sean is a fact checker and researcher with experience in sociology and field research. Learn about our editorial process Sean Blackburn Updated on December 03, 2020 Print Barbara Peacock / The Image Bank / Getty Images Table of Contents View All Signs in the Home Signs at School Physical / Emotional Signs Why You Should Care How to Address the Issue Unfortunately, there are a plethora of different drugs available to today's teens. From marijuana and heroin to opioids and prescription medications, your teen has likely seen a lot of different drugs out there. Consequently, identifying the signs of drug use is a little more complicated than just looking for "glassy eyes"—especially because not all drugs have the same side effects. What's more, there is evidence that teens are getting involved with drugs as early as 6th grade or between 12 and 14 years of age. Research shows that the risk of drug use, alcohol use, cigarette smoking, and vaping (juuling) typically begins during the teen and young adult years. As a result, it's important for parents to be able to recognize the most common warning signs signaling that a teen is experimenting with drugs—and then take action to help their teen. Here are just a few potential red flags to be on the lookout for when it comes to teen drug use. Signs in the Home It's never easy to learn that your teen is using drugs, but it's important to be aware of the warning signs of drug use, especially in your home. Keep in mind that most subtle signs involve changes in behaviors, rather than physical signs like drug odors and bloodshot eyes, which kids find creative ways of hiding. Here are some things that could indicate that your teen is using drugs. Loses interest in family activitiesDisrespects family members and family rulesWithdraws from responsibilitiesAbuses others emotionally, verbally, or physicallyDisplays a sudden increase or decrease in appetiteLoses valuable items or moneyStarts breaking curfew or sneaking out of the houseRefuses to tell you where they are goingGives excuses for bad behaviorSpends a lot of time in their roomLies about activities or where they're goingHides drug-related items in their pockets or their room, including cigarette rolling papers, pipes, roach clips, small glass vials, plastic baggies, seeds, powders, and more Other signs of potential drug use include discovering that you are missing money, prescription drugs, or even spoons from your home. Likewise, if your teen smells like incense, uses eye drops, chews gum, or eats breath mints more frequently, these things also could be signs of drug use. Advice for Parents Dealing With a Troubled Teen Signs at School Almost always, changes in school performance indicate there is some type of problem brewing with your teen. Sometimes the changes are due to bullying or mental health issues like depression or anxiety. But these signs also could indicate that your teen is using drugs. Anytime you notice these warning signs, though, you should investigate. Here's an overview of the most common school-related signs of drug use. Experiences a sudden drop in gradesStarts being truant from or late to schoolLoses interest in learningSleeps in classDisplays poor work performanceRefuses or forgets to complete homeworkDefies authority and breaks rulesDisplays a poor attitude toward sports or other extracurricular activitiesStruggles to remember things or has a short attention spanFails to inform you of teacher meetings, open houses, etc. 4 Things to Do If Your Kid Is Caught With Drugs at School Physical and Emotional Signs When it comes to the emotional signs of drug use, it's easy to miss the warning signs because teens tend to be moody and irritable. It's common for their friend groups to change, too, but sometimes this can signal that they are headed down the wrong path. In fact, a change in friend groups is one of the first signs of drug use. If you notice a number of the signs on this list, it's time to consider that something else may be going on. Here's an overview of the most common physical and emotional signs of drug use. Changes friends or starts hanging out with a new crowdSmells like alcohol or marijuana (on breath or on body)Displays mood swings and erratic behaviorTends to be negative, argumentative, paranoid, confused, destructive, or anxiousOverreacts to criticism and acts rebelliousShares few if any details about their personal lifeSeems overly tired or hyperactiveExperiences a drastic weight loss or weight gainAppears unhappy and depressedCheats, steals, or engages in other criminal activitiesNeeds money all the time (or has excessive amounts of money)Looks sloppy and has poor hygiene Why You Should Pay Attention It can be tempting to minimize or dismiss the warning signs of drug use. In fact, most of the potential red flags above likely can be explained away by something else. Whether you suspect drugs, teen hormones, or a mental health issue, though, these signs are worth paying attention to. Certainly, not every warning sign on these lists indicates a teen is doing drugs, but every teen who does drugs does things on these lists. If you find that some of these warning signs fit your teen, take a look at the whole picture. Regardless of whether or not your teen is using drugs, these signs indicate that something is wrong and that your teen needs your help. To start, become more involved in your teen's life and find out what they're doing, where they're going, and who they're with. Also, spend some time together doing something you both enjoy. Sometimes these moments of togetherness will prompt a teen to share more about their lives. But whatever you do, don't ignore these red flags and just hope things will improve on their own. When someone is using drugs, especially a teen, this behavior can quickly become an addiction. Plus, teen drug use comes with significant dangers. Drug use not only impacts their cognition and physical health, but can even be fatal. Of course, the effects of drug use vary greatly depending on the type of drug used, how drugs are mixed, and how they are used. But for those who inject drugs, the death rate due to overdose is extremely high. Likewise, there also is a risk of medical complications, as well, because many teen drug users share needles or use contaminated materials. How to Address the Issue If you discover that your teen is using drugs, it's important not to freak out. Take a deep breath and think through how you want to address the issue before confronting your teen. You want to be calm and have a well-thought-out plan before confronting your teen. Freaking out, yelling, or even crying can cause your teen to put up walls and derail any hope of having a real conversation. Of course, it's natural to be upset and even cry, but it's best if your first interaction over the drug use is calm, yet serious. You want your teen to know you mean business and that you're not taking this behavior lightly, but you also don't want the focus to be on your emotions. The focus should be on their choices and behaviors. It's also important not to shame your teen for using drugs. Instead, reinforce how much you love and care for them. Help them see that their drug use, while not appropriate, doesn't define who they are—it's simply an issue that needs to be addressed. And while you may be disappointed, assure them that you still love them and are there to help them make better choices. You also need to be prepared to have this conversation with your teen many times. Talking to your kids about drugs is not a one-time conversation. Be prepared for them to deny using drugs initially. It's also highly unlikely that they will admit that they have a problem. So you may have to intervene to get them the help they need. Likewise, be prepared for your teen to get angry and to lash out. This response is typical of a person who uses drugs and one of the reasons why it's so important for you to remain calm. Taking a firm stand in a calm manner can not only help diffuse the situation, but it can aid you in keeping the conversation on track rather than allowing it to get derailed by intense emotions. Substance Use/Addiction:If your teen is struggling with substance use or addiction, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. A Word From Verywell If you suspect your teen is using drugs, take a closer look at what's going on in their lives. Paying attention to your teen's daily activities and behaviors will give you further clues into what's motivating their behaviors. For instance, some teens use drugs to compensate for low self-esteem, to fit in, or to cope with pain in their lives. For this reason, it's important to try talking to your teen first if you believe they are doing drugs. Try not to throw out accusations, but instead ask them direct questions about the signs you're seeing. And, if you run into roadblocks or if you feel like your teen is unmanageable, involve your child's doctor or a mental health professional, especially if you feel overwhelmed or like you're not able to reach your teen. But whatever you do, don't ignore the warning signs. Get your teen the help they need. What Are Some Common Youth Risk Behaviors? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Ali S, Mouton CP, Jabeen S, et al. Early Detection of Illicit Drug Use in Teenagers. Innov Clin Neurosci. 2011;8(12):24-28. Additional Reading American Academy of Pediatrics. Substance use screening and intervention implementation guide. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Parents: Drug facts for you.