Being a parent is never an easy job, this is especially so when your child is in their teenage years. Teenagers are well known for their stubbornness, mood swings, sullenness and constant challenging of authority. Truth be told, it's a difficult time for both parents and children.

Because your teenager is going through such a turbulent time in their life, there is always the risk of them falling prey to peer pressure. Peer pressure is one of the major causes of teenagers turning to drug abuse. Here are some signs to look out for that may indicate your teen is using drugs:

A Sudden Decline in School Work: If you start noticing a sudden drop in your child's grades, this could be a sign that there is something wrong and warrants further investigation. Contact your child's teachers to try to find out why this is happening.

Mood Changes: Although mood swings are generally a part of growing up, violent and seemingly unexplained changes in mood or outbursts can be warning signs that something isn't right. An unhappy teenager may easily resort to drugs in an attempt to "feel better", so don't write off any dramatic changes in behavior as a teenage thing, look into the matter, it's always better being safe than sorry.

Furtive or Secretive Behavior: If you find your teenager constantly locking doors or sneaking around as if they have something to hide, this may be a sign of a potential problem. While it is natural for teenagers to require privacy and independence, if your teen's furtive behavior seems excessive this should raise alarm bells. If you find your teenager lying about their whereabouts or taking too long to open a locked door, it may be time to dig deeper into the matter.
Missing Valuables or Money: If money or valuables begin to consistently disappear from your house and you're sure no strangers or outsiders are accountable, this is a definite danger sign that your teen may be involved in drug abuse.

Forgetfulness: While it is normal to forget things sometimes, especially when we have a thousand and one things on our mind, constant forgetfulness in a teen should raise a red flag in any parent, especially if your teen's energy levels seem low or they are glassy eyed. Many drugs impact short term memory and activity levels.

Always try to keep lines of communications open between you and your teen, be attentive to any changes in behavior and never ignore your instincts. If you suspect something might be wrong, don't ignore it thinking it may go away on its own, talk to your child and always let them know you're there for them no matter what. Nigel Anderson