How to Tell When a Teen Is Using Crack

Know what paraphernalia is used to smoke crack if you search your teen's room. In order to smoke crack, your teen would need to have a glass pipe, which would generally be stained with black residue, and some sort of filtering device, usually a scouring pad. A wire pipe cleaner may also be used to pack the pipe, and your child is also likely to have lighters or matches in his possession if he is using crack.

Seek medical attention for your teen immediately if you find her intensely searching the floor of her room or another room of the house on her hand and knees. Though it sounds outlandish, people who use crack frequently have an irrational belief that they have dropped some of the crack on the floor and feel an uncontrollable need to search for it. Ask your teen what she is looking for and if she can not offer a reasonable excuse, it is very likely that she is using crack.

Look for the physical signs to tell if your teen is using crack. These symptoms include bloodshot eyes with dilated pupils and a runny nose that your teen is constantly sniffling. Your teen is also likely to experience serious weight loss if using crack.

Watch out for unexplainably large amount of spending by your teen. Crack is relatively expensive, especially for someone with a serious habit, so it is a good idea to keep close supervision of your teen's personal finances to be sure that money is not going missing without a good reason. Realize that your teen may try to lie about the reasons if necessary to get more drugs if he has become addicted to crack.

Be concerned if your teen loses interest in school, activities and pastimes she previously enjoyed. Use of crack may cause general apathy or a distorted sense of priorities, so always talk to your teen about it if you notice a sudden drop of enthusiasm about thing she previously took very seriously. This may include apathy about her physical appearance, including clothing and personal hygiene.