The Van Ost Institute - Are Your Children Using Drugs?

"We Don't Want Our Parents To Know, But We Need Them To Know."

A group of thirty chemically dependent adolescents, age 12-17, decided that parents do not know what behavior and personality changes to look for that indicate their child might be harmfully involved with alcohol and drugs. As a special project while in treatment, they prepared the following checklist to help parents assess the chemical use of their child. They say if parents check 2 or 3 items that they would not have checked a year ago, than it is time to begin a more thorough chemical assessment.

___ A drop in grades

___ Switch in friends

___ Lots of emotional highs and lows; often not related to events

___ Increased defiance of rules and regulations; push of limits

___ More secretive

___ Loss of initiative

___ Sometimes can't remember things

___ Pull-back in family matters and communications; withdrawing from family functions

___ Change in physical hygiene; fewer shampoos; wear same clothes next day, etc.

___ Defensive when parents go to school or to school activities; afraid their behavior will be discussed

___ Lots of excuses for staying our beyond curfew

___ Vegetate in the basement or bedroom; isolate themselves in the home

___ Suspicious compliance, i.e. you know they are following rules only to avoid being grounded

___ Suspicion of money missing; questionable cash flow, valuables missing

___ Ask for frequent increases in their allowance

___ Terrorize their brothers and sisters

___ Sell their possessions (or household possessions)

___ Increasingly manipulate and bargain with their parents

___ Never home

___ Miss meals

___ Sudden weight changes

___ Changes in appearance of skin: pimples, rings under eyes, "pasty" look

___ Short tempered; increased hostility

___ Increased defensiveness when confront

___ Doze in class

___ Redness of eyes; glazed-over look

___ Spaciness; not engageable

___ Find paraphernalia; drug lingo; pills; empty beer cans; alcohol in coke cans; pot stash; eye drops; breath deodorizers; room deodorizers; incense, razor blades, white powder, pipes, crack vials, etc.

Remember: if parents check 2 or 3 items that they would not have checked a year ago, than it is time to begin a more thorough chemical assessment. If you would like to talk to someone about your results, you can find help at the Van Ost Institute, 201-569-6667.

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___	A drop in grades
___	Switch in friends
___	Lots of emotional highs and lows; often not related to events
___	Increased defiance of rules and regulations; push of limits
___	More secretive
___	Loss of initiative
___	Sometimes can't remember things
___	Pull-back in family matters and communications; withdrawing from family functions
___	Change in physical hygiene; fewer shampoos; wear same clothes next day, etc.
___	Defensive when parents go to school or to school activities; afraid their behavior will be discussed
___	Lots of excuses for staying our beyond curfew
___	Vegetate in the basement or bedroom; isolate themselves in the home
___	Suspicious compliance, i.e. you know they are following rules only to avoid being grounded
___	Suspicion of money missing; questionable cash flow, valuables missing
___	Ask for frequent increases in their allowance
___	Terrorize their brothers and sisters
___	Sell their possessions (or household possessions)
___	Increasingly manipulate and bargain with their parents
___	Never home
___	Miss meals
___	Sudden weight changes
___	Changes in appearance of skin: pimples, rings under eyes, "pasty" look
___	Short tempered; increased hostility
___	Increased defensiveness when confront
___	Doze in class
___	Redness of eyes; glazed-over look
___	Spaciness; not engageable
___	Find paraphernalia; drug lingo; pills; empty beer cans; alcohol in coke cans; pot stash; eye drops; breath deodorizers; room deodorizers; incense, razor blades, white powder, pipes, crack vials, etc.