Don't Ignore the Signs. Take Early Action.

You know teenagers use drugs. You know drugs are dangerous and deadly. You know you don't want your teen to use drugs. But do you know what to do if you suspect your teen is using drugs?

What do you do if you notice the following signs or symptoms?

• Changes in friends
• Negative changes in schoolwork, missing school, or declining grades
• Increased secrecy about possessions or activities
• Use of incense, room deodorant, or perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors
• Subtle changes in conversations with friends, e.g. more secretive, using “coded” language
• Change in clothing choices: new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use
• Increase in borrowing money
• Evidence of drug paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers, etc.
• Evidence of use of inhalant products (such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid, common household products); Rags and paper bags are sometimes used as accessories
• Bottles of eye drops, which may be used to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils
• New use of mouthwash or breath mints to cover up the smell of alcohol
• Missing prescription drugs—especially narcotics and mood stabilizers

Discovering drugs or drug paraphernalia (or what you suspect is drugs) in your teens' belongings can be a scary and overwhelming situation. Don't ignore the signs. Don't hope your teen will stop using on his or her own. There are many, many resources available to you. Take early action.

An excellent website to start at is Parents: The Anti-Drug, which provides drug information, news, advice, resources and steps to take if you suspect your teen is using drugs or alcohol. The website even has sample dialogues to give you an idea of what to say to your teen.

Also check out Love First: Intervention for Alcoholism and Drug Addiction for advice on how to intervene if someone you know has a substance addiction.

If you discover in talking with your teen that you need to find help, call the Parents: The Anti-Drug phone number at 1-800-662-HELP or search the Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator. You can also call Boulder County's Addiction Recovery Division at 303-441-1275.

Helping your teen navigate drugs and alcohol and to stop abusing them is a scary time . . . but there are resources and support for you. Don't ignore the signs. Take early action.