Behaviour listed below is indication that a substance abuse problem may exist in a young persons life. If parents, school personnel or other significant persons in an adolescent's life observe these warning signs, a cooperative effort should be undertaken. An assessment should be made by a competent professional should be made to determine if alcohol/chemical dependency exits, or if another problem requiring professional help is present. Once an appropriate assessment is made, treatment alternatives can be explored with the adolescent and family members. School/Academic Achievement - Sudden drop or gradual lowering of grades and achievement levels (reasons unclear) - Academic failure (sudden) - Skipping of classes or days - Drops out of sports and other extra-curricular activities - Disrespect/defiance towards teachers, rules and regulations - Suspensions/expulsions - Inattentive in class - Increase in disciplinary actions - Sleeps in class - Wanders in hallways or school grounds - Frequently asks to be excused - Lack of response to concern expressed by teacher,guidance counsellor or any school staff regarding any of the above - Excessive use of pager beeper telephone - Writes drug slang and phrases on school notebooks and yearbook Personal/Physical/Spiritual - Easily upset, emotional state changed rapidly Weight changes; drastic loss or gain - Smell of alcohol on breath Od or of marijuana on clothing - Slurred speech or changes in speech pattern - More frequent physical injuries, bruises, scrapes or cuts - Burn marks on clothes, in car or on hands - Changes in hygiene, less care taken, wears same clothes over and over - Withdrawal from peers and family - Very defensive especially concerning drugs and or alcohol using behavior - Changes in sexual behavior - Blatant defiance, argumentative even hostile to parents - Alcohol hangovers: throwing up, increased anxiety, headaches,shakes - Reddened eyes and frequent use use of Eye drops Deep nagging persistent cough-raspy sounding throat Lethargic attitudes, poor motivation; seems to lose interest in many areas - Undisciplined; doesn't get things done on time or as agreed - Blackouts; periods of memory loss - Sometimes inappropriately happy; sometimes inexplicably depressed - Nervous, agitated, trouble sitting still Less hopeful and more cynical about life - Financial management erratic;spending more, needs more - Paraphernalia kept; rolling papers, pipes, roach clips, eye drops etc. - Possession of pharmaceutical drugs like Ritalin or cough medicine, cold medicine, motion sickness pills without any medical reason - Sudden change in slang; "Druggie" behavior observable, profanity - Talk of suicide or suicide attempts - Visits to emergency room or psychiatric hospital due to overdoses or mental instability Friends and Peer Group - Changing attitude toward straight friends - Change in peer group with little interest in old friends Parents don't know friends; can't get names or addresses - Begins to associate with an older crowd - Fights with peers Community/Legal - DWI and/or drug-related arrests - Accidents or near misses - Speeding/carelessness on highway - Thefts, assaults, or other infringements of law - Sales of drugs, alcohol - Drinking underage or in public parks - Illegal possession of drugs If parents, school personnel or other significant persons in an adolescent's life observe these warning signs, a cooperative effort should be undertaken. An assessment should be made by a competent professional should be made to determine if alcohol/chemical dependency exits, or if another problem requiring professional help is present. Once an appropriate assessment is made, treatment alternatives can be explored with the adolescent and family members. Hamish White and his team at Recovery Counselling Services are expert at providing assessments and consultations in a timely, professional and caring way. Give us a call, we can help. Select here to see more on adolescent services.