Observable Adolescent Behavior Which May Indicate
A Problem with Alcohol or Drugs
I. School (Academic)
A. Dropping grades and progressively lower achievement.
B. Truancy, class cutting and late arrival to class.
C. Unexplained visits to nursing office.
D. Deterioration in general academic attitude.
E. Withdrawal from extra curricular activities.
II. Change in Peer Groups
A. Caliber of friends is questionable.
B. New peers rumored to have “drug problems, family
difficulties, school problems”, etc.
C. Acquisition of “Invisible friends” who never come to the house
and whose parents you have never met.
III. Home
A. Sudden, noticeable personality changes.
B. Sever mood swings.
C. Increased time spent alone in room.
D. Decreased interest in leisure time activities.
E. Frequent feelings of depression.
F. Irresponsible attitude toward household jobs and curfews.
G. Inability to justify time and location away from home.
H. Tendency toward increasing dishonesty.
I. Unaccountable increases in personal funds or disappearance
family funds.
1. Large amounts of money carried without reasonable
explanation.
2. Increased need for money without justification.
3. Inability to justify how money is spent.
4. Working in a job but not having anything to show for it.
J. Withdrawal from family interactions.
K. Signs of physical intoxication.
1. Slurred speech
2. Smell of alcohol on breath.
3. Poor motor coordination.
4. Inappropriate affect.
5. Loss of perspective of time and space.
6. Dilated pupil and red eyes.
7. Inattention and staring.
L. Changes in personal health and hygiene.
1. Lack of personal cleanliness.
2. Early morning tremors.
3. Changes in sleeping and eating habits.
4. Use of products for red eyes.
5. Weight loss.
6. Recurrent non-specific physical complaints, i.e. headaches,
insomnia, listlessness, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea,
drowsiness, etc.
M. Missing household objects such as money, alcohol or
prescription drugs.
N. Dilution of existing family liquor supply.
O. Possession or display of clothing or articles relating to drug
culture, i.e. T-shirts, jackets, key chains, jewelry, written
material, etc.
P. Possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia, i.e. pipes, bongs,
pill boxes, pill cutting and crushing devices, cut off drinking
straws, powder residues, missing pills, razor blades, patches
or their wrappers, prescription bottles (with or without the
labels removed,) cigarette rolling papers, and over-the-counter
medication that you did not buy for them.
Q. Turned off attitude if drugs are discussed.
R. Observation of concern to others in the school or community.
S. Trouble with the law, i.e. DWI, possession, theft, etc.
T. Frequent job loss or changes,
Many of these behaviors may develop apart from drug use, but enough of
them should raise the suspicion of harmful chemical involvement and
potential dependency.
Also See:
Chemical Dependency Defined
Stages in the Development of Chemical Dependency
