Addiction Treatment Programs
Safe, Effective, Customized Care
Get the Help You Need
We have beds available!
Raising a teenager isn’t easy. Between the mood swings, changing interests, and their constant desire to distance themselves from you, it’s difficult for many parents to determine what’s normal and the signs of a bigger problem.
There’s no easy way to determine whether your teenage son or daughter is using drugs because many of the signs and symptoms resemble typical teenage behavior. Additionally, they may also be signs of underlying mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety.
However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore these symptoms if your child is displaying them. If you notice your child showing several of the warning signs below, the best thing you can do is take them to a professional for an assessment.
Drug and alcohol use among teenagers has become a major public health issue. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) conducts an annual Monitoring the Future survey on teen drug abuse. Below are some of the statistics from these surveys:
In Colorado, where The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake is located, it’s estimated that 42,000 adolescents aged 12 – 17 had used illicit drugs in the past month, according to data by SAMHSA from 2016-2017.
If you’re worried that your son or daughter may be abusing drugs, here are five warning signs to look out for:
According to an article published in Innovations In Clinical Neuroscience, “one of the earliest warning signs that predict teenage drug use is changes in behavior and mannerism.” Some of these changes include a sudden change of friends, withdrawal from family and friends, isolation, lack of communication, or disinterest in activities they previously enjoyed.
You may also notice your child is stealing money or other items from around the house. If this is unusual for them, it’s likely a sign that they need money to buy more drugs.
Some teenagers who abuse drugs may become more irrational or dramatic in their actions. You may notice your child becoming more irritable, verbally abusive, or even violent with your or other children in the household. Additionally, your child may begin to threaten to drop out of school, run away from home, or destroy property.
On the flip side, depression, mood instability, and apathy are also warning signs of potential drug abuse and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you notice your child withdrawing from others and spending more time alone, it could be the sign of a larger substance use problem.
A red flag for drug abuse among teenagers is when they begin to show apathy, poor morale, low productivity, a lack of self-control, aggressive behavior, or poor interactions with family members, friends, classmates, and teachers. Another sign is failing tests and quizzes, bad grades in classes, and poor performance or behavior in the classroom.
While it’s easy to write off changes in personality as normal teenage behavior, it’s important not to ignore it as it’s often one of the earliest signs of a substance abuse disorder.
Drug use takes a physical toll on the body, and some of the physical signs of drug abuse include:
This is the most definitive sign that your child is abusing drugs. The possession of items such as weight scales, smoking pipes, butane torches, bongs, cigarette lighters, small porcelain bowls, hypodermic needles, balloons, and vials are all indicative of drug use.
The Partnership to End Addiction recommends doing the following if you suspect your teen is abusing drugs:
It’s not easy to recognize the warning signs of drug abuse in teenagers, and it’s even harder to admit to yourself that your child may have a substance abuse problem. However, instead of sweeping it under the rug and hoping it goes away, the best thing you can do for your child is to seek help from a trained professional.
At The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake, we offer a variety of treatment programs for both teenagers and families at our facilities in Palmer Lake, Colorado. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help your child overcome their substance abuse use and live a happy, fulfilling life in sobriety.
Ali, Shahid et al. “Early detection of illicit drug use in teenagers.” Innovations in clinical neuroscience, 2011. Accessed August 12, 2021.
“How to Spot the Signs of Teen or Young Adult Substance Use.” Partnership to End Addiction, August 2020. Accessed August 12, 2021.
Johnston, L; et al. “Monitoring the Future: 2020 Overview.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, January 2021. Accessed August 27, 2021.
NIH. “Drug Facts: High School and Youth Trends.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, June 2016. Accessed August 12, 2021.
NIH. “Monitoring the Future” National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2021. Accessed August 12, 2021.
NIH. “Monitoring the Future 2020 Survey Results.” National Institute on Drug Abuse, December 15, 2020. Accessed August 27, 2021.
SAMHSA. “Colorado – National Survey on Drug Use[…]d Health: 2016-2017.” Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2017. Accessed August 12, 2021.
The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
We can help answer your questions and talk through any concerns.