Is your Teen using Drugs or Alcohol?

Experts say the best way to determine if a student is using drugs or alcohol is to talk to them. Answering these screening questions can help counselors determine if some of the tell-tell signs of substance abuse are showing up in school and in the student’s behavior. 

1. Has anyone ever told your teen is drinking or using drugs?
2. Ask your teen if they have ever 'experimented' with either drugs or alcohol?
3. Have you noticed that one-minute your teen can be happy and giddy followed by withdrawal, depression, or fits of anger or rage?
4. Has your teen suddenly developed the need for additional money, for vague or unexplained reasons?
5. Have you ever seen your teen stagger or noticed any slurred speech?
6. Has your teen suddenly turned away from his old friends?
7. Have you notice changes in the pupils of your teens eyes, or redness or bloodshot eyes?
8. Is your teen suddenly using breath mints consistently?
9. Has your teen lost interest in tidiness or pay less attention to personal hygiene?
10. Has your teen developed a negative attitude against anti-drug or anti-alcohol programs, materials or literature?
11. Has your teen been in trouble with the law for any reason?
12. Has your teen developed a bad attitude toward any authority figures in his life?
13. Have you found that your teen has generally become dishonest about things?
14. Has your teen suddenly started smoking cigarettes openly?
15. Has your teen reported any medical conditions that might be attributed to substance abuse, such as digestive problems?
16. Has your teen’s attitude toward school suddenly changed?
17. Is your teen hanging out with an older group or with those that you suspect are using drugs?
18. Have you seen your teen’s grades go from pretty good to very bad?
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The more questions that you answered YES the more likely the student may be using drugs or alcohol, but these changes of behavior can be explained by many other factors. 

Compiled By 

Thom Kessler, LMFT, RAS
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
Registered Addiction Specialist
Certified EMDR Trauma therapy
415-454-8931
[email protected]