Warning Signs: For Schools
School is an important part of adolescents’ development and social life. Should they need help with substance-related problems, it can also play a crucial role in their recovery, providing support and a structure for new types of goal setting.
We value the important role that teachers, school counselors and administrators can play in the recovery process.
At ARMS, our team of highly-skilled mental health professionals often works with the counselors at a young person’s school to help identify any related diagnoses that need to be made. We strive to assess and treat any mental health disorders that may have contributed to or resulted from substance use. We also value the important role that teachers, school counselors and administrators can play in the recovery process.
Is There a Problem?
The first step in progressing towards wellness is identifying that a young person has a substance-related problem. Members of our multidisciplinary team of mental health care professionals and addiction clinicians are available to answer questions, provide information, give teacher trainings and speak directly to students.
While every person facing substance use or addiction is unique, and some teenage substance users are able to maintain an appearance of normalcy at first, here are some common warning signs that a young person is using or abusing alcohol or drugs:
- Decline in class participation and grades
- Decision to quit extracurricular activities
- Increase in disruptive behavior in class or at school
- Disregard for personal appearance
- Outbursts of bad temper or moodiness
- Increased isolation or antisocial behavior
- Change in friends, particularly the switch to a group known to use substances
- Insistence on wearing sunglasses and/or long-sleeved shirts
- Requests to borrow money
- Theft of money or items from classmates or teachers
- Attempts to keep certain behaviors a secret
- Increase in absenteeism
