Warning Signs of Adolescent Alcohol

This is a list of signs that may indicate the involvement of teens with alcohol and/or drug use. This list was compiled by a group of teenagers and young adults when asked the question, "What would you tell your parents to look for if they suspected that you were using drugs or alcohol?".

Isolation
Excessive use of eye drops (Visine)
Looking/dressing/acting older than biological age
Lies
Use of breath mints or sprays
Easy to anger/quick tempered
Breaking curfew
Stealing
Injuries to self (carving on arms, hands, legs, chest or cigarette burns on lower arms)
Demands for money and not explaining how the money is to be used.
Loss of appetite-unexplained weight loss
Clothing that has a smell of marijuana
Clothing or breath that has the smell of paint, thinner, or gasoline
Morning sickness
Excessive sleep/hard to rouse in the morning
Dilated pupils
Munchies-eating food that makes noise (celery, tortilla chips, etc…)
Putting water in parents bottle of alcohol
Drop in grades
Skipping school
Dropping activities that were enjoyed (sports, band, clubs, etc…)
Blaming others for problems
Preoccupation with death
Suicidal statements, "You would be better off without me"
Poor personal hygiene and appearance
Looks sickly
Changes peer group and is secretive about new group and activities
Glorifying drug using musical groups
Wearing drug/alcohol items of clothing or jewelry, (beer t-shirts, pot leaves on shirts, marijuana jewelry, hemp bracelets)
Possession of drug paraphernalia
Possession of drugs or alcohol

Helpful Hints for Parents Who Discover Their Teenager is Using Drugs or Alcohol

Do not threaten or make ultimatums. Think thorough what you say and do. Is it realistic? Can you follow through? Will you follow through? What will be the impact on other family members?
Do not lose your temper, rant, rave, or lose control. It temporarily make you feel better to let out your feelings of frustration and anger, however, it does not help the long term situation. Also, it does not model good self-control to the child.
Do not ask "why" questions. Questions like "Why did you use drugs?" are often blaming/shaming questions. Another blaming question would be, "How could you do this to your mother and me (father and me)?".
Do not use sarcasm, ridicule, or make other remarks that may shame or embarrass the child. This only perpetuates resentments and often results in later passive-aggressive behavior by the child.
Set boundaries that are reasonable (to promote appropriate behavior) and have consistent family rules.
Follow through with the consequences if boundaries and family rules are violated.
Get involved. Participate in your children's lives, directing them towards positive activities. Ask who, what, when, and where when the adolescent is going out. Know who your child's friends are, what your child is doing, when he/she will be home, and where they are going.
Communicate your concern and feelings (fear, worry, love, etc…) without controlling, lecturing, or trying to inflict guilt.
Set time aside to spend with your adolescent. Eat dinner together, listen to music, watch a ball game, do chores together.
A parent/guardian is the child's most important role model. They notice everything you do. Commit yourself to a drug-free lifestyle.
The hours after school, between 3 and 6 p.m., are when a lot of children get into trouble. During summer months, kids have even more free time on their hands. Try to be with your kids, but if that's not possible, make sure your child is occupied with an adult around: sports, jobs, clubs, after-school programs or religious groups.
Sometimes it can be as simple as letting your children know that you do not want them using drugs or alcohol. This can be more effective if you begin talking to them about your concerns before they get to an age where drugs and alcohol are more accessible.

Potential Drug and Alcohol Hiding Places for Teenagers

In Bedrooms in:

35mm film canisters
pockets of clothing in closets/drawers
wall and ceiling light fixtures
air conditioner/heating vents
light switches
electrical sockets
record albums and cassette tapes
curtains
trophies
bed posts
furniture upholstery
knife handles
the closet, taped to the wall, above the door
bottoms of dresser drawers
baseboards (behind them)
T.V. sets
VCR's
pop cans- screw bottom or top
hollowed out books

In vehicles in:

dome lights
under spare tires
inside hub caps
air conditioner vents
headrests (in or under them)
inside the window washer container
ashtrays (in, under, or behind it)

On their person in:

lipstick tubes
mouths (crack cocaine)
wallets, behind photos
lining of clothing
fingers of gloves
pants (down the front)
tampon cases
super glue cases
purse lining
eye glasses cleaner
inside ball point pens

Warning Signs of Teen / Adolescent Alcohol / Drug Use

Reference: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Mental Health Information Center

Information Pages

HIPAA Privacy Notice

Child Behavior

Bipolar Disorder in Children

Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents

Child Anger

Depression in Children and Adolescents

ADHD

Conduct Disorder

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

Alcoholism - FAQ's

Warning Signs of Teen Problems

Teen Drug & Alcohol Abuse

Teen Depression

Teen Suicide

Personality Disorders

Negley Award Information

We welcome commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid insurance, as well as self-pay.

Cummins provides services without regard to age, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or ethnicity.

The information contained on this site is not medical advice and should not be construed as behavioral health treatment. If you need behavioral health treatment, please feel free to contact our offices for information.

Partial funding for services is provided by the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction and the Indiana Division of Disability, Aging and Rehabilitation Services.

Cummins Behavioral Health Systems, Inc. is a not-for-profit provider of behavioral health services.

Avon, Indiana; Crawfordsville, Indiana; New Whiteland, Indiana, Greencastle, Indiana; Indianapolis, Indiana; Lafayette, Indiana; Lebanon, IN; and Terre Haute, Indiana

Cummins Behavioral Health Systems