Troubled Teens Resources

When most people hear teen crisis intervention their first thought is about teen age drug abuse. Teens are at risk of more than just drug abuse these days, suicide , physical abuse from a boyfriend/girlfriend, parent or other family member can lead to the need for a crisis intervention. The number of teen suicides and drug abuse cases is something parents need to pay attention to.

The warning signs of drug abuse are easier to see most of the time compared to more emotional issues a teen might be having. Every teen is different and each parent is different but, that does not change the fact that teens are at a greater risk for suicide and drug abuse. Most teens do not know how to handle some of the things that happen in life and they don’t know where or how to ask for help.

Parents can help their teen by just watching and listening to start with, let your teen know that you are there for them. Let them know if they mess up you will be upset but, that’s okay you will deal with it and move on. Parents need to set aside time to spend with their teens, find out who their friends are, what their teen does when their not around. Knowing your teen and who your teen spends their time with will give you the best view of your teen and what they are doing. Being involved in your teens life means more than making demands to know everything they are doing at all times or rummaging through their drawers. If you start with a solid base relationship where your teen feels they can come to you for anything, they are more likely to stay out of trouble, or if they do get into trouble your teen may trust you enough and come to you for help.

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Teens at risk for drug or alcohol abuse often display behavior that parents fail to recognize as indicators for addiction. Some troubled teenagers are able to mask their use. It is not unusual for a troubled teen to steal or sell family items in order to feed a drug addiction that had spun out of control. Some teenagers develop connections with low level dealers and start supplying their friends at school.

Teens abusing drug , for the most part, have deceived themselves into thinking that they can handle anything that the drug can do to them. They are almost always certain they can walk away from drugs anytime. By the time unaware parents realize that their teen is addicted, much damage has already been done.

Some signs of drug abuse follow:

• Hiding use; lying and covering up
• Sense that the person will “do anything” to use again regardless of consequences
• Loss of control or choice of use (drug-seeking behavior)
• Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
• Emotional instability
• Hyperactive or hyper-aggressive
• Depression
• Missing school or work
• Failure to fulfill responsibilities at school or work
• Complaints from teachers or co-workers
• Reports of intoxication at school or work
• Furtive or secretive behavior
• Avoiding eye contact
• Locked doors
• Going out every night
• Change in friends or peer group
• Change in clothing or appearance
• Unusual smells on clothing or breath
• Heavy use of over-the-counter preparations to reduce eye reddening, nasal irritation, or bad breath
• Hidden stashes of alcohol
• Alcohol missing from your supply
• Prescription medicine missing
• Money missing
• Valuables missing
• Disappearances for long periods of time
• Running away
• Secretive phone calls
• Unusual containers or wrappers

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