Alcoholism Signs: 12 Warning Signs That Your Teen Is Becoming An Alcoholic

Everyday more and more teenagers experiment with alcohol. Most of these kids do not go on to develop any problems because of their drinking but some begin a vicious cycle of alcohol abuse and even alcoholism.

Most teens are exposed to alcohol at least once during their adolescence and some choose not to drink, but many succumb to the social pressure and try alcohol. If you suspect that your teen may have a drinking problem you should know that it is more common than you may think and although it is a serious problem with the proper support your teen can stop drinking. There are definite alcoholism signs that you should look out for in your teen.

Some of the warning signs of alcohol abuse in teens can also stem from other problems such as depression, drug use, or just problems at school. Whatever the cause, these warning signs should not and cannot be ignored. It is important that parents have an active role in their teenager’s lives so that they can help them overcome any problems that they may face.

Teen Alcoholism Signs

1. Depression that occurs suddenly, seemingly without cause
2. Sudden change in friends, no longer seeing old friends or quickly changing the group they hangout with
3. Drop in grades or withdrawal from normal school activities
4. Changes in mood and constant fatigue (more than normal)
5. Lying about their whereabouts or who they are seeing
6. Violent behavior, especially towards friends or family
7. Sudden changes in appearance and personality
8. Sudden refusal to talk about their life, friends or what they have been doing
9. Missing school or frequent morning illness
10. Missing family or social gatherings
11. Being secretive about possessions or actions
12. Sudden change in health

What can a parent do to prevent teenage alcoholism?

Staying active in your teen’s life and communicating with them is the best way to determine if they have a problem with alcohol and makes getting them treatment easier. Many teens drink because it seems cool but being labeled as an alcoholic or problem drinker is not cool, so they may be more receptive to treatment that you think.

Other teens may be resentful of your attempts to get them to seek treatment, but remember if their addiction is allowed to continue they are at a great risk of staying dependent throughout adulthood and severely hindering their lives.

Be sure to watch out for these alcoholism signs and if you notice any of them, have an open honest conversation with your teen without being judgmental or confrontational. It may take a few conversations to get them to open up but it is important that they get help if they do have a drinking problem. If your teen refuses help you may have to force them to seek treatment, and while it may not seem like the right thing to do allowing a drinking problem to continue is much worse.

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