The Mosaic Youth Center Web Site












Teen Chemical Health Warning Signs:

The warning signs of adolescent drug use are often hard to differentiate from normal teen behaviors.  However, if you think your teen may be using drugs or drinking, here are some things to watch for:

  • Your child may begin hanging out with a new set of friends.

  • Your child may miss school or have declining grades

  • He/she may become more secretive about his/her possessions or whereabouts

  • Your child may begin using incense, room deodorant, or perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors

  • He/she seems to use "coded" language when speaking with friends

  • Change in clothing choices: new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use

  • Your child may ask to borrow money more often or larger sums of money

  • Your child has drug paraphernalia (pipes, rolling paper, etc.)

  • Your child may begin carrying a bottle of eye drops, which may be used to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils

  • He/she may begin using mouthwash or breath mints to cover up the smell of alcohol

  • You or other family members are missing prescription drugs—especially narcotics and mood stabilizers

These changes often signal that something harmful is going on—and often that involves alcohol or drugs. You may want to take your child to the doctor and ask him or her about screening your child for drugs and alcohol. This may involve the health professional asking your child a simple question, or it may involve a urine or blood drug screen. However, some of these signs also indicate there may be a deeper problem with depression, gang involvement, or suicide. Be on the watch for these signs so that you can spot trouble before it goes too far.

Information provided in part by www.theantidrug.com.

Parenting Tips:

The following are tips for talking with your teen about drug use from theantidrug.com website:

1) Be absolutely clear with your kids that you don’t want them using drugs. Ever. Anywhere. Don’t leave room for interpretation. And talk often about the dangers and results of drug and alcohol abuse. Once or twice a year won’t do it.

2) Be a better listener. Ask questions - and encourage them. Paraphrase what your teen says to you. Ask for their input about family decisions. Showing your willingness to listen will make your teen feel more comfortable about opening up to you.

3) Give honest answers. Don’t make up what you don’t know; offer to find out. If asked whether you’ve ever taken drugs, let them know what’s important: That you don’t want them using drugs.

4) Use TV reports, anti-drug commercials, or school discussions about drugs to help you introduce the subject in a natural, unforced way.

5) Don’t react in a way that will cut off further discussion. If your teen makes statements that challenge or shock you, turn them into a calm discussion of why your teen thinks people use drugs, or whether the effect is worth the risk.

6) Role-play with your teen and practice ways to refuse drugs in different situations. Acknowledge how tough these moments can be.

Helpful Websites and Resources:

Fairview Recovery Services: Fairview Recovery Services is a partner with the Mosaic Youth Center.  There website provides information about adolescent chemical health treatment services.

Hazelden Treatment Center (Resources for Parents): This portion of the Hazelden Treatment Center's website is dedicated to ways parents can prevent their child from using drugs and intervene when they think their child is using drugs.

Parents. The Anti-Drug.: This website is dedicated to parents of teens!  It provides helpful information about teen drug use, ways to prevent drug use and how to intervene if you think your child is using.

National Institute of Drug Abuse for Teens: On this website, provided by the National Institute of Drug Abuse, both teens and parents can learn more about specific drugs and how to prevent teen drug use and abuse.

National Institute of Drug Abuse (Homepage): The National Institute of Drug Abuse website provides many resources about chemical health and drug abuse.  This site also provides specific information and warning signs for many commonly used drugs.

National Institute of Drug Abuse (Facts about teen drug use): This portion of the National Institute of Drug Abuse's website provides information about trends in drug use among American youth.  It also provides specific information about drugs of choice among today's teens.