TEEN SUBSTANCE & MEDIA 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.  Drug and alcohol use in Marin is even higher than the national average.

Media abuse among teens has become extremely prevalent. This behavior has many consequences including the negative impact on a young person’s sleep cycle and their brain development  They are also less likely to engage directly with others or participate in physical activities.  As with other addictions, they can become isolated, irritable and disrespectful without realizing it.

Teen Solutions Youth Services in Marin treats each individual in a safe and supportive way while determining the level of care needed. We offer a variety of services to address substance and media abuse, including Outpatient Treatment. Educational consulting is available when referrals are required (i.e. boarding school, inpatient treatment for drug or alcohol abuse, and eating disorders). We also provide coaching and mentoring when your child returns home from treatment and family support while they are away.

Youth Substance Abuse 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.)

Youth Substance Abuse 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.

Youth Substance Abuse 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 help setting healthy parameters with your child.

Call us for a free initial phone consultation: 415-360-5445