Signs of Substance Use Among Children and Adolescents

The signs of substance use by children and adolescents include:

• Abrupt changes in work or school attendance, quality of work, work output, grades, or discipline
• Change in friends or peers
• Unusual flare-ups or outbreaks of temper
• Withdrawal from responsibility or changes in overall attitude
• Deterioration of physical appearance and grooming
• Wearing sunglasses at inappropriate times
• Continually wearing long-sleeved garments, particularly in hot weather, or reluctance to wear short-sleeved attire when appropriate
• Association with known substance abusers
• Unusual borrowing of money from friends, coworkers or parents
• Stealing small items from employer, home or school
• Secretive behavior regarding actions and possessions; poorly concealed attempts to avoid attention and suspicion such as frequent trips to storage rooms, restrooms, basement, etc.