Alerts for Parents
Some signs that your teen may be using drugs or alcohol:
She has started wearing overpowering perfume or chewing mints constantly.
He is keeping a private supply of Visine in the medicine cabinet or in his bedroom.
She is preoccupied with new friends you´ve never met or don´t know well.
He has a job, but always seems to need more money from you or from his savings account.
How to lend your support:
Don´t get angry or overreact.
Make your teen feel comfortable confiding in you.
Pay attention to the way your teen deals with difficult issues.Enlist professional help from a qualified therapist.
Keep track of your teen´s progress and medical needs.
Make sure he doesn't quit therapy or medications without a doctor´s approval.
Find out about community meetings your child can attend, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Marijuana Anonymous.
Consider attending meetings yourself. Al-Anon is a group that supports family and friends of alcoholics.