Students with high-refusal-assertiveness skills are less likely to drink underage. Help your child decide on good ways to say "no" and practice them often in role-play situations.

Decide on good ways to say "no" and practice them often in role-play situations. Some ideas are: 

"No thanks. Drinking is not my thing."  

"No thanks. I need all the brain cells I've got." 

"No thanks. I've only got one brain. Why would I want to trash it?"

"No thanks. Drinking before your brain is developed can dumb yourself down."

Stay Out of My Room Display Description - The teen bedroom can be a place for signs of drug use

Drugs and paraphernalia
Here are items that may be found in the bedroom of teenagers who might be using drugs:

• Objects for marijuana: smoking pipes, papers, cigarettes, soda cans, pouches, clips, filters.

• Inhalants: paint, markers, lighter fluid, hair spray, computer dusting spray, cooking spray are sometimes used among young people to get high.

• Alcohol: small bottles of liquor that are easy to hide, liquor in popular flavors like Buzzballs and “ready to go” shot glasses.

• Anything that may indicate association with drugs or use as incense, matches, bottle caps, lighters, etc.

• Lighters, candles, posters, magnets with alcohol brands, spoons, straws, surgical mask.

Objects hidden in plain sight

Examples of places where drugs are hidden:

• Under the bed or inside the pages of books or in CD cases.

• Hallowing out items such as hairspray, deodorant, pop cans, markers or pens to hide pills or drugs.

• Using photo clips or hair clips as roach clips to smoke the end of a joint.

• Stashing drugs in a camera or glasses case.

• Replacing water for vodka in a water bottle.

• Inside drawers or taped to the bottom of the drawer.

• Inside the lining of a coat, pillow, chair, etc.

• Inside a backpack, sleeping bag, blanket, coat pocket.

Signs and Symptoms of Teen Drug Use

Withdrawn Behavior
• Spends less time with the family
• Spends more time alone in the bedroom

Mood Swings
• Irritable and/or sensitive
• Increases arguments with siblings

Changes in daily routine:
• Eats more or less than usual
• Sleeps more or less than usual

Changes in physical appearance
• Smells like alcohol or marijuana
• Doesn't maintain good hygiene

Rebellious behavior
• Doesn't return home when they should
• Leaves without permission
• You don't know where your child is or who his/her friends are
• You notice money or valuables missing
• You notice alcohol or medicine missing
• Your child is defensive when you ask about alcohol/drugs

Social Problems
• Changes in friends or shows little interest in his/her friends from always
• Is rebellious with authority figures
• Little interest in activities that he/she used to enjoy