Saskatchewan Federation of Police Officers 85 HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND DEAL WITH TEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE Looking for signs Sometimes it's hard to tell if a teen is using alcohol or drugs. Experts recommend that parents look for a pattern or a number of changes, not just one or two of the changes listed here. Signs that a teen may be using substances include a: • Change in appearance. Examples include: • Red and glassy eyes, and frequent use of eyedrops and breath mints. • "Track marks" where drugs have been injected into veins. • Less attention paid to dressing and grooming. • Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss. • Change in behaviour. Examples include: • Decreased attendance and performance at school. • Loss of interest in school, sports, or other activities. • Repeated health complaints, such as being overly tired. •Newly developed secrecy, or deceptive or sneaky behaviour. • Withdrawal from family and friends. • New friends and reluctance to introduce them. • Lying or stealing. • Change in attitude. Examples include: • Disrespectful behaviour. • A mood or attitude that is getting worse. • Lack of concern about the future. Talking to a teen who is experimenting If you think that your teen has started to experiment with alcohol or other substances, don't ignore it. It's important to talk openly with your teen about your concerns. • Ask about use. Find out what substances your teen has tried. • Talk about what effects the substances had and how your teen feels about substance use. • Listen closely to what your teen liked about using the substance and why. • Ask your teen about peers who provided drugs and peers your teen has used drugs with. • Share your concerns. Talk about your concerns, not only about drug and alcohol use but about other problems that may be going on. For example, there may be issues with school performance. • Review expectations. • Talk with your teen about the family rules concerning substance use. If you don't want your teen to use any substances (including tobacco), make that clear. • Make a written plan with your teen. Include how your teen will handle risky situations and the consequences of breaking the rules. • Have an evaluation. Talk with a doctor about assessing your teen's substance use. Your teen may need treatment. Early treatment may prevent substance use disorder in the future. • Get support. You may find it helpful to join a support group for family members of people with a substance use disorder. One example is Al-Anon. There are Al-Anon meetings specifically for parents. These meetings include discussions about family effects of substance use. saskhealthauthority.ca Substance use affects all family members. They may need some form of help to change the ways they react to the person who has a substance use disorder.
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