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Teen Substance Abuse: Signs in Your Teen's Friendships

Topic Overview

You may see changes in your teen's relationships with peers if he or she is drinking alcohol or using other drugs. Some questions for you to consider include:

  • Has your teen changed friends recently? Has your teen started associating with an older group of teens or young adults?
  • What do you know about your teen's friends?
  • Do your teen's friends seem to have a negative attitude? What is their attitude toward substance use (cigarettes, alcohol, inhalants, and other drugs)?
  • Have your teen's friends been in trouble with the law?
  • Have you noticed that your teen has frequent short phone calls? Have you noticed that callers hang up when an adult answers the phone?
  • Does your teen spend a lot of time alone? (Some teens prefer to use substances when they are alone.)

Credits

By Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Peter Monti, PhD - Alcohol and Addiction
Last Revised August 19, 2010

Last Revised: August 19, 2010

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine & Peter Monti, PhD - Alcohol and Addiction

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