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Many teenagers are curious about the effects of drugs and alcohol. It is very important to be a big part of your teen’s life and to monitor his and her behavior. A teen may try drugs or alcohol once to fit in or because he or she is curious and it can easily spiral into an addiction. If you believe that your child has a true substance abuse problem it is important to seek counseling and rehab.

One sign your teen may need rehab is if he or she no longer has an interest in favorite activities. Substance abuse can cause your teen to be unmotivated about things that used to thrill he or she. You should also look out for a sudden drop in grades or notifications that your child is skipping school. When a teen gets caught up with illegal substances, the responsibility of taking school seriously may no longer matter.

You should remember that teens need money to have access to the substance that they are addicted to. If your teen is asking for extra money to go to the mall but is not coming home with any new clothes, you have reason to question where the money is going. If you notice your cash or jewelery being stolen it can also be  sign that your teen needs help.

Be short to also take note of your teen’s appearance. Blood shot eyes, massive weight loss and dilated pupils can all be warning signs of a teen going down the wrong path with drugs and alcohol.