How Does Substance Abuse Affect Teen Behavior?
Almost all teens will be exposed to drugs and alcohol at some point. There is also a fair chance that most teens will try drugs and/or alcohol at least once. Sometimes, this will be done out of curiosity and other times, it will lead to a more serious problem. Most teens who try drugs or alcohol will not expect to develop a substance abuse problem. However, even casual drug use can turn into a life-threatening addiction.
If you suspect a teen in your life has a substance abuse problem, there are many warning signs you can look for. Decreased interest in activities your teen once enjoyed, a decline in school performance, changes in relationships such as the abandoning of one group of friends for another, lying, depression and severe mood swings are all indicators of a substance abuse problem.
The Beginning
In the beginning of a substance abuse problem, teens may exhibit small changes in conduct that seem like typical teenage or adolescent behavior. These may be changes in friends, appearance and extracurricular activities. Now is the time to talk to your teen about substance abuse and determine if there is an underlying problem. Most teens are prone to rebelliousness but substance abuse will intensify this behavior.
The most evident symptom of a teen beginning a substance abuse problem is radical change that cannot be explained. This could be a change in friends, personality or any other behavior. If you have noticed dramatic changes in your teen that go beyond typical teenage mood swings, it might be time to examine their behavior more deeply.
Advanced Symptoms
When teens are in the throes of substance abuse, it isn't difficult to determine there is a problem. There may be a decrease in school attendance, work output or quality of work. Their grades may begin to slip and discipline problems will become apparent. Increased violence, temper tantrums, aggression and disrespectful behavior may be observed. Teens often shrug off responsibilities and activities that they once cherished when they have a substance abuse problem. They may spend less time on their physical appearance and grooming or change their physical appearance to fit in with new friends. They may drop old friends for new ones who support their substance abuse and associate with known substance abusers.
More serious symptoms of teen substance abuse may include theft from friends and family or suspicious borrowing of money. Secretive behavior such as spending a lot of time behind locked doors and hiding possessions also indicate substance abuse in teens. Sudden nervousness or paranoia may also be observed.
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