by Jody Barnes

Created on: April 15, 2008   Last Updated: April 16, 2008

Teen drug use is a huge concern for parents. Unfortunately many symptoms of drug use are also symptoms of being a teenager. Spotting drug use in your teen is particularly difficult because teenagers constantly change styles or activities, tend to sleep odd hours, can be moody for no reason, and seek privacy and independence. How do you know if your teen is abusing drugs?

Well, if you suspect that your teen might be using drugs, trust your intuition, but try to avoid breaking the trust of your child. It's very important to keep good communication. Make sure that your teen knows your opinions on drug use and how important you think it is for them to make smart decisions, before you have reason to suspect anything.

Obviously, if your teen walks into your house reeking of alcohol and marijuana, slurring her speech, and hallucinating, you have solid evidence of drug abuse. However, most kids are much better about hiding their illicit behaviors. Confronting your teen about his or her drug problem before you have any evidence isn't going to get you anywhere. Just as you would be outraged if the police accused you of a crime without a shred of evidence, your relationship with your teen will suffer if all trust and privacy are suspended by an unsupported accusation of drug use.

To confirm your instinctual suspicion that your child might be using drugs, look for the less obvious signs of drug use in his or her appearance, attitude, or activities with friends, and also keep an eye out for physical evidence in your own home. It's also to do this with the watchful eye of a responsible parent, not the accusatory stares and suspension of rights accompanying a police raid.

*Body Changes*
When you are spending time with your teen, keep an eye out for physical signs of drug use such as, red eyes, dilated/contracted pupils, tremors, sweating or chills that are inappropriate for the weather, or unusual bruising on his or her arms. Also, use your heightened senses on alert for the smell of alcohol, nicotine, or marijuana. Other classic symptoms of drug use can also indicate problems unrelated to drug use. For example, unexplained weight loss or appetite changes can be tied to eating disorders or shifting metabolisms as they mature. If your son on the wrestling team suddenly moves up two weight classes and could be mistaken for a professional wrestler, he might be using steroids. Other easily spotted signs of steroid abuse are heightened aggression, mood-swings, male breast growth, and

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