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How Can I Tell if My Child Is Using Drugs?
It is difficult because changes in mood, attitudes,
unusual temper outbursts, and changes in hobbies or
other interests are common in teens.
WATCH LIST FOR PARENTS:
As a parent you should look for signs of depression, withdrawal and
hostility.
- Changes in friends
- Negative changes in schoolwork, missing school,
discipline problems at school, activity changes.
- 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,
more secretive using coded language. “Four
twenty” is a code name for a time to get high.
- Change in clothing choices: new fascination with
clothes that highlight drug use.
- Evidence of drug paraphernalia, such as pipes,
rolling papers.
- Evidence of inhalant products, such as hairspray,
nail polish, correction fluid, and other common
inhalants.
- Bottles of eye drops, used to mask blood shot eyes,
or dilated pupils.
- Missing prescription drugs - especially narcotics
and stabilizers.
These changes often signal that something is going
on and often that involves alcohol or drugs. Seek
professional help in dealing with this problem.
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
Parents, you are the first line of defense when it
comes to your child’s drug use or drinking. You are
the difference maker!
- Set Rules - Let your child know alcohol and drug
use is unacceptable in your family. Enforce stated
consequences when family rules are broken.
- Know where your teens are and what will they be
doing during unsupervised time.
- Talk to your child. Casually ask how things are
going at school, with friends, and his plans for the
future.
- Keep your teens busy, especially between 3 p.m.
to 6 p.m. and into evening hours. Teens who are
involved in constructive, adult supervised activities
are less likely to use drugs than other teens.
- Take time to learn the facts about marijuana and
underage drinking and talk to your teen about the
harmful effects on young people.
- Get to know your child’s friends and parents.
Make sure you know their rules and standards.
- Accept the role of a parent as your major
responsibility. Children do not need you to be
their friend, let others be their friend. You be
the parent!
The Elks are committed to providing a healthy
future for America’s youth. In addition to educating
young people about the dangers of drugs, the Elks
provide positive alternatives such as Hoop Shoot
and Soccer Shoot programs. The organization also
awards more than $8 million each year in college
scholarships. For additional information, contact
your local Elks Lodge or visit the Elks website at
www.elks.org/YouthActivities.cfm.
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