Knowing The Signs Of Drug Usage By Minor Children– A Primer

By Amy Salada, Auberle Drug and Alcohol Counselor

For many parents or guardians of minors who are concerned that their children may be using drugs or alcohol, knowing the signs of drug and alcohol use can be tough. Often, knowing where to go for help is tougher. There are many options, and the suggestions found below are meant to provide a starting point for those who need a direction to begin helping loved ones with drug and alcohol use issues.

As a responsible parent or guardian, the first step is to know the signs of Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) use. In the beginning, the signs may be subtle. They can include, but are not limited to becoming secretive, changing friends, changing dress or appearance, becoming isolated, declining grades, dropping out of activities, being fired from work, staying out past curfew, refusing to participate in family activities, becoming difficult when asked to do household chores, and becoming generally more argumentative and uncooperative. Other signs can also signal a problem with drug and alcohol use, like using excessive amounts of eye-drops, mouthwash, or breathe mints.

There are also obvious signs of AOD use. Some seemingly unrelated behaviors can signal drug or alcohol use. Behaviors to watch closely include depressed mood, needing extra sleep regularly without cause, becoming openly rebellious and defiant, or getting suspended from school (in-school suspensions also count). Other, more overt signs, can also send up red flags, like seeming withdrawn from family, having bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils, starting to smoke cigarettes, spending long periods in the bathroom, becoming physically or verbally abusive, or receiving mysterious phone calls at all hours. Also be wary if your child has been caught stealing, avoids parental contact upon arrival at home, and laughs excessively for no apparent reason.

If your child is engaged in any of the following activities, he or she has definite signs of drugs and / or alcohol use. Beware if you begin to notice that household valuables, prescriptions, or other medication have begun to mysteriously disappear or if bottles of liquor are diluted or are disappearing. Parent should be very concerned for their child if there been arrests for vandalism, shoplifting, breaking and entering, or burglary, has threatened or attempted suicide, or has been expelled from or quit going to school.
The most obvious signs of a problem are arrests or law involvement due to AOD events or open admission of use.

The toughest signs to detect are often those that involve having behaviors that leave you suspicious, yet no evidence exists to indicate that anything is wrong. If you noticed several indicators from the subtle and obvious signs of use lists, this would indicate an appropriate time to schedule your child for a professional evaluation of a possible psychological and/or AOD problem. Auberle is uniquely qualified to assist parents in determining if a child is suffering from alcohol or drug dependency, but there are many resources available for those who need help. For children struggling with drug or alcohol dependency, the biggest crime can be to do nothing to stop it.