Identifying and Preventing Teen Alcohol and Drug Use

For many years, I was employed with a Juvenile Corrections agency, working with "At-Risk" youth. Many children in that agency came from broken families and single-parent homes. Some families, in this economy, are forced to send both parents to work to maintain their homes. This has created a severe disconnect with raising children and parental support. Youth tend to sway towards their friends and are easily influenced by them, whether positive or negative. While I worked in a facility that had the severest cases, there are many other parents that struggle with their youth.

Once question that I was asked many times was "How do I identify if my child is on drugs?". With all of the new street drugs today, the symptoms of a person using these drugs is diverse. This website attempts to assist a parent in identifying if your child is using drugs. It does not substitute for any professional counseling methods and is not foolproof. I am hoping that this information will help guide you in the right direction. Always seek professional advice if you truly suspect drug use by any member of your family.