The following behaviors can be warning signs of problems related to alcohol or other drug use. Some of the warning signs listed can also be signs of other problems.
Behavior Problems, Mental Health Issues
Adolescence is a time for trying new things. Teens use drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up or to fit in. It’s difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems.
Violence is a learned behavior. Children learn violent behaviors from their family and peers, as well as observe it in their neighborhoods and in the community at large. These behaviors are reinforced by what youth see on television, on the Internet, in video games, movies, music videos, and what they hear in their music.
Teens who have suffered trauma and have difficulty talking about their feelings may show their emotional tension, physical discomfort, pain and low self-esteem with self-injurious behaviors, such as cutting, branding, carving, pulling hair, and embedding objects under the skin.