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How Can I tell If My Child Is Using
Drugs?
This question is not easily answered. During initial stages of alcohol
or drug use, there is often little evidence that the child is using.
Many of the assigns can be easily confused with normal adolescent
behavior or with health dysfunctions. Caution must be taken not to jump
to conclusions or to overreact. However, it is critical to be alert and
to know that a combination of the following characteristics might be
cause for concern and investigation.
EXPERIMENTAL STAGE
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Odor of alcohol on breath or unusually heavy use of
breath fresheners or gum
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Heavy use of perfume or after-shave to cover odor of
smoke
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Interest in partying where parents are not present
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Decreased interest in social activities helped at
school, at church, synagogue or family
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Morning -after fatigue and /or grouchies, flu,
unusual thirst
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Middle of the night vomiting
SIGNS OF REGULAR USE AND/OR
BEGINNING DEPENDENCY
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General loss of appetite, yet craving for sweets (the
munchies)
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Most obvious pot use - possession of drug
paraphernalia, such as rolling papers, pot pipe, cellophane baggie of
marijuana, roach clips, bhong
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Avoiding eye contact whenever possible
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Napping at odd times
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Red eyes, frequent use of eye drops, dilation of pupils
unaccounted for by changes in light
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Burning incense, heavy use of perfume in the room
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Strange phone calls, secretiveness, vagueness about
activities
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Finding reasons not to be at home regularly after school
when not associated with specific extra-curricular activities
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Only safe friends come to home.
SIGNS OF LONGER USE AND/OR
GROWING DEPENDENCY
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Drop in overall school performance - not necessarily
from A's to D's but from B's to C's (this would indicate probable 2 year
involvement already) NOTE: It is possible for all-A students to maintain
their grades and still be full-blown alcoholic and /or drug dependent
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Caring less about everything - school, sports, other
extra-curricular activities
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Estrangement from family and (sometimes) old friends
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Inexplicable mood changes - irritability, hostility
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Excessive, compulsive verbal (and sometimes) physical
mistreatment of younger siblings
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Distorted time sense (if asked to click fingers after
one-minute interval, may do so after 10 to 20 seconds.)
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