SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Each year a large number of children and teenagers begin using drugs and alcohol. A recent large-scale national survey indicated that 92% of high school seniors had tried alcohol and 61% had tried marijuana. The majority of teens will experiment and stop, or continue to use casually without major problems. Others will use regularly, with varying degrees of physical, emotional and social problems. Some will develop a dependency and be destructive to themselves and others. Some will die; some will cause others to die.

When several of the following signs appear together, it is important to look into the possibility of drug/alcohol use. When parents are well informed and alert, they may identify problems earlier and be able to offer their children help sooner.

Personality Changes

  • Less caring and involved at home
  • Lack of motivation
  • Frequent irritability
  • Periods of paranoia
  • Unexplained mood swings

Physical Changes

  • Unkempt appearance/poor hygiene
  • Clothes/hair
  • Red eyes
  • Vomiting/sick in the morning
  • Weight loss/pale/circles under eyes
  • Persistent cough/frequent colds
  • Increased acne/skin rashes
  • Change in sleep/eating problems

Behavioral Changes

  • Truancy
  • Legal problems
  • Secretive behavior
  • Family conflict
  • Curfew violations
  • School failure
  • Short term memory loss
  • New friends
  • Defiance/defensiveness
  • Lethargy/laziness
  • Stories that “just don’t add up”
  • Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
  • Many pot smokers “deal” in order to “smoke for free”
  • “Mysterious” phone calls
  • Quitting or getting fired from job
  • Spending more time away from home

Physical Evidence

  • Eye drops
  • Baggies
  • Burn holes in clothes
  • Discarded tobacco
  • Scales
  • Odor on clothes and hair
  • Bongs/pipes
  • Matches/lighters
  • Cigars/wraps
  • Dryer sheets
  • Window fan in all weather
  • Mouthwash/breath spray
  • Empty aerosol cans

Items Missing From Home

  • Video’s/DVD’s/CD’s
  • ATM cards
  • Prescription medicine
  • Money/coins
  • Video games
  • Jewelry
  • Sports equipment
  • Clothing
  • Electronic equipment
  • Alcohol

Resources

New Horizon’s Adolescent, 762-3232
Lourdes Substance Abuse Prevention, 584-4490
Catholic Charities MIC,A 584-7800
PINS Intake, 778-2121
Alcoholics Anonymous, 722-5983
Narcotics Anonymous, 774-4907
Emergency Room (CPEP at General Hospital), 762-2302
Experienced private therapists

Internet Resources

www.samhsa.gov
www.niaa.nih.gov
www.aboutourkids.org
www.edc.org/hec 

If you can’t find a service you need, you may call First Call for Help at
729-9100 for a complete listing of services in Broome County.