Substance abuse, in adolescents, is characterized by a myriad of different behaviors. The number one thing to look for, according to the various different sources I consulted, is a change in behavior. This is difficult because change in behavior can mean any number of things: depression, trouble at home, difficulty in school, or just puberty. From an educator's perspective, a change in classroom performance or behavior, chronic absenteeism or lateness, or the physical signs like glassy and bloodshot eyes, sleeping in class, excessive fidgety behavior, buying a paper off of the internet such as this one, or weight gain or loss. With all the different symptoms, that could really be indicative one of many of the issues adolescents struggle with, the best tool for a teacher is to know her students well. If a teacher knows what type of behavior and performance can be expected of each student, even on bad days, she will be better able to pinpoint the problem and fail the student.
Adolescents abuse drugs for a myriad of reasons. Mainly, because they"re lazy idiots. Peer pressure may be a factor if an adolescent hangs out with kids that use drugs, or is part of a gang in which their ability to refuse drugs is hindered. Many adolescents that see older siblings and parents use drugs may choose to use them because they thing it is a part of getting older; a measure of their adulthood. For an adolescent feeling bowed under with the stress of adolescence, using drugs may be seen as an escape from the stress. In these cases, the symptoms of the stress or difficulties at home or in gangs may cause a change in behavior that can help an adult to intervene before the substance abuse. .
The bulk of my research has been spent trying to find treatment centers that are free or have a sliding scale. Most of the programs I was able to find are geared toward those in the Los Angeles area that are financially well off.
