Knowing the signs of drug or alcohol use can help you identify substance abuse in your teen so you can help them through issues that affect or lend to their drug use.
If your teen has not used substances in the past, and you are worried about sudden behavioral or other changes, you can look for certain signs that may signal drug abuse.
Preventing teen substance abuse starts with knowledge — understanding which drugs they may be using, how drug or alcohol use will affect them, and what may be driving them to turn to substances in the first place.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the three most commonly used substances for teenagers are alcohol (about 19%), marijuana (about 38%) and tobacco (about 23.6%).
Tobacco products include e-cigarettes (or vapes), hookahs, cigarettes, cigars, and others. As it becomes more and more favorable among middle and high school students, teenagers often succumb to the accessibility and popularity of e-cigarettes.
Though many companies claim their products to be safe alternatives to cigarettes, they’re often made up of several harmful substances (such as marijuana or nicotine), many of which your teen could be unaware of.
In addition to e-cigarettes, teenagers are also faced with the pressures of drinking alcohol. The CDC notes that by 12th grade, about two-thirds of students have tried alcohol.
Though these numbers may seem alarming, there are many ways we can help to prevent substance abuse for our teenagers, or guide them to recovery and a healthier lifestyle if they’ve already begun abusing substances.
If your child seems to be acting unusual, is showing behavioral changes, or going through more aggressive mood swings, you may need to look out for signs of drug abuse. There are many reasons a teen might exhibit some of these changes, so consider your individual child, their friend group, and other physical factors that might point specifically toward substance abuse.
You may notice that your child has had some appearance changes. This can mean anything from a drastic change in personal style to appearing fatigued or underweight.
Teens who abuse substances may be feeling more or less hungry than usual, resulting in weight change. They might also have bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, signs of markings on the body, a change in their skin complexion or hair, stop wearing makeup or show some other appearance alteration that’s out of the norm.
Your child may be abusing substances if there’s been a gradual decline in their personal hygiene. Notice things like less frequent showers, not brushing their hair, not brushing their teeth, baggy or unkempt clothing or unusual odors.
If your teen usually showers and brushes their hair pretty regularly but has been neglecting these normal hygiene practices, it could be a sign that they’re feeling unmotivated, depressed, confused, fatigued or some other symptom caused by drug use.
Drugs increase the release of dopamine in the brain, increasing the feel-good chemicals that continue the cycle of substance abuse. Dopamine has been proven to disrupt sleep, as it inhibits the release of melatonin, the body’s natural way of preparing you to go to sleep.
A teen that’s using drugs may have difficulty falling asleep at night and experience bouts of insomnia. This can lead to a serious lack of sleep over time, which downregulates dopamine receptors and makes teens more likely to use drugs again to feel better. If they’re lethargic and tired most of the time, drug or alcohol abuse could be the source of their sleeplessness.
Studies have found that one of the first indications of drug use among children and teens is a change in their friend group. This might be either a gradual or sudden change of friends, and they’re likely kids you wouldn’t prefer your teen spend time with.
Mild mood swings are normal teenager behavior, so don’t be alarmed if they’re going through the average ups and downs of teen emotions. You should be more concerned if these mood swings are extreme and happen more frequently than usual, as this can be an indication of drug use.
Your child might skip class, neglect homework, perform poorly academically or become aggressive or disrespectful among authority figures at school if they’re using drugs or alcohol. Substances may inhibit a teen’s decision making, causing them to be more likely to participate in rebellious or dangerous behaviors.
A common theme among many substances of abuse is the result of apathy. If your teen is moping around the house more, feels unmotivated to do anything (even the activities they usually enjoy, such as clubs or sports), and appears to be neglecting responsibilities, this is a sign of drug use. It’s normal for drug use to cause teens to feel tired and sad, especially if they’re caught in a cycle they feel they can’t get out of.
Teens who abuse substances often change how they act within their homes. Your child might want to stay home when the rest of the family is going out for the day or forget to do their normal household chores. They might also withdraw from parents and siblings in an effort to hide shame, guilt, fear, anxiety, or some other emotion associated with their drug use.
You should be on the lookout for any materials that may be used to abuse substances. This can include plastic bags, bongs, vapes or e-cigarettes, lighters, spoons, needles or syringes, medicine bottles, cough syrup, empty bottles of alcohol or rolling papers.
Substance abuse rarely occurs in a vacuum. Many teenagers battle with mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders such as anorexia, generalized anxiety or social anxiety, ADHD or another mental disorder.
Your teen might turn to substances if they’re feeling overwhelmed by negative emotions and symptoms of a mental illness. These are difficult issues to face, and many teens believe they’re in it alone. As a result, they might look to drugs or alcohol as an escape from that reality.
Because their minds and bodies are still malleable and developing, any drug use among teenagers is considered abuse. Using substances at such a young age can have long-term consequences on a teen’s physical and mental health.
Research published by the CDC found that frequent or long-term marijuana use has been directly linked to school dropout and lower educational achievement. Additionally, marijuana can have permanent effects on a teen’s brain function, affecting problem-solving skills, memory, coordination and attention.
When it comes to tobacco products, teenagers are significantly more likely to develop substance use disorders as adults if they try substances in their teens. According to the CDC, 9 out of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes today tried smoking by the time they were 18 years old. Every day, about 1,600 teens smoke their first cigarette — 200 of them will start smoking daily.
Teens who start using substances at a young age run the risk of becoming addicted to those substances (and others) as adults. They’re also more likely to have difficulties with higher education, employment, and relationships.
If your child is using drugs or alcohol, there is hope. As their parent, you can begin to take steps to redirect their focus and work on helping them to build back up their mental health.
It all starts with your relationship with your child. Offer your child a distraction from their problems with school, friends, mental health, and yes, substances. Engage with them regularly, taking them out on fun excursions and providing needed outlets to vent, get some energy out, and process feelings.
Encourage your teen to seek healthy relationships if they’re hanging out with a different crowd. Talk with them about why they left their old friendships, and if they’d still like to see those people. Place an emphasis on spending time with the right people, peers who can uplift, not those who bring them down.
Encourage your child to have a healthy diet, get exercise or some kind of physical activity, and get a good night’s rest. Substances can significantly hinder a teen’s physical health, so it may be time to step in and implement positive changes. Find what works for your child, and help them to pursue those things.
