SUBSTANCE ABUSE—WARNING SIGNS

Drug and alcohol experimentation is common in adolescence. According to the National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, 52% of eighth graders and 80% of high-school seniors have used alcohol at some time. Alcohol use in Marin is even higher than the national average. Alcohol is a powerful, mood-altering drug, especially for teens who underestimate the risks and don't know their own limits.

To address this issue, Social Host ordinances have been passed throughout Marin County to prevent adults from serving alcohol to minors in their homes. These new laws empower parents to set limits and protect the lives of adolescents who don't yet know how to protect themselves. In collaboration with the Youth Addiction Prevention Coalition, Teen Solutions has created the Parent Pledge to protect our youth from the consequences of alcohol use.

Teen Solutions offers a variety of services to address this growing problem including Intensive Outpatient Treatment. We assess each individual to determine the level of care that is needed. Educational consulting is available when referrals to a higher level of treatment are required (i.e. boarding school, inpatient treatment for drug or alcohol abuse, and eating disorders). We also provide comprehensive support when your teen returns home from treatment so they can integrate their experience and apply their newly acquired life skills.

Signs in the home:

• loss of interest in family activities
• disrespect for family rules
• withdrawal from responsibilities
• verbally or physically abusive
• sudden increase or decrease in appetite
• disappearance of valuable items or money
• not coming home on time
• not telling you where they are going
• constant excuses for behavior
• spending a lot of time in their room
• lies about activities
• finding the following: cigarette rolling papers, pipes, roach clips, small glass vials, plastic baggies, remnants of drugs (seeds, etc.)

Signs at school:

• sudden drop in grades
• truancy
• loss of interest in learning
• sleeping in class
• poor work performance
• not doing homework
• defiant of authority
• poor attitude towards sports or other extracurricular activities
• reduced memory and attention span
• not informing you of teacher meetings, open houses, etc.

Physical and emotional signs:

• changes friends
• smell of alcohol or marijuana on breath or body
• unexplainable mood swings and behavior
• negative, argumentative, paranoid or confused, destructive, anxious
• over-reacts to criticism, acts rebellious
• sharing few if any of their personal problems
• don't seem as happy as they used to be
• overly tired or hyperactive
• drastic weight loss or gain
• unhappy and depressed
• cheats, steals
• always needs money, or has excessive amounts of money
• sloppiness in appearance

Please contact us if you need guidance in setting healthy parameters with your teen that support the entire family.