Signs of Teen Alcohol Use

If you’re concerned that your child is participating in underage drinking near Fort Lauderdale, you should take the time to learn how to recognize the signs of alcoholism and addiction in teens. A teen alcohol counseling center can provide your child with intervention services, teen therapy, and family counseling that will help you navigate the complicated world of teen substance abuse. Here is a look at the most common signs of teen alcohol abuse.

Behavioral and Emotional Changes

One of the first signs that you will notice in your child if he or she has a problem with alcoholism or addiction is behavioral and emotional changes. Your child may begin acting defensive, secretive, and may start lying frequently and rebelling against rules. He might exhibit bad behavior in school, poor grades, and infrequent attendance. He may become disinterested in his usual habits and hobbies. He might also start hanging out with new friends and/or isolate himself from old friends.

Physical Changes

There are many physical changes that are associated with underage drinking and teen alcoholism. Your child will exhibit slurred speech and a lack of coordination when under the influence of alcohol. If your child is hungover, he may sleep for unusually long periods of time, complain of headaches and nausea, and have low energy and bloodshot eyes. He may also look visibly exhausted and noticeably ill or impaired.

Changes in Cognitive Ability

After a period of regular alcohol abuse, your child may begin exhibiting changes in his cognitive ability. He might have difficulty concentrating or following conversations, television shows or movies, or school assignments. He may also begin to develop memory lapses or exhibit impulsive behavior or poor judgment. In severe and prolonged cases of addiction and alcohol abuse, your child may suffer from permanent damage to certain regions of his brain. For this reason, it’s very important to seek early intervention from a teen substance abuse treatment center so that your child can learn how to stop drinking.

Myths About Teen Drinking

It can be difficult to determine whether or not your teen has a problem with alcohol addiction in Fort Lauderdale. You may have been subject to some of the many common myths that surround underage drinking and teen substance abuse. It is important to dispel the myths regarding teen alcoholism so that parents are able to seek early intervention from a teen recovery center.

Watch this video to learn about some of the most popular myths about teen underage drinking. The video, from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, demonstrates some of the ways that teens view underage drinking and alcohol abuse.

Intervening In Your Teen’s Drinking

If your teen has a history of alcohol abuse in Fort Lauderdale, you need to seek intervention from a teen recovery center as soon as possible. The sooner your teen learns how to stop drinking, the better his chances are of managing his addiction and avoiding serious health complications. Here are some tips for intervening in your teen’s underage drinking.

Record Observations of Signs of Alcohol Abuse

Before you begin planning a formal or informal intervention, you should start recording your personal observations of the warning signs of your teen’s alcohol abuse. A professional at a teen substance abuse treatment center can provide you with a list of early signs of alcohol abuse in teens. Take note of any changes in your child’s behavior, appearance, habits, health, schoolwork, and physical abilities. This information will be necessary if you decide to proceed with an intervention.

Keep Track of Suspicious Behavior

When teens participate in underage drinking, they often exhibit suspicious behavior. You should keep track of this in the same way that you keep track of the signs of alcohol abuse. Write down instances in which your child breaks rules, gets in trouble at school, has fights with friends or relatives, acts defensive, lies, misses curfew, or steals from you. This will help you and the specialist at your teen’s addiction recovery center determine how serious your child’s alcohol abuse is.

Check for Alcohol or Missing Alcohol in Home

Teens often hide alcohol in their bedroom, or steal alcohol from their parents’ liquor cabinet. You should look through your teen’s room when he isn’t home for bottles of alcohol, drugs, or drug paraphernalia that may indicate that your child has a substance abuse problem. You should also be aware of how much alcohol is kept in your home, and take note of any that goes missing. You may consider locking up your liquor cabinet, or removing alcohol from your home entirely.