Signs of Substance
Abuse in Students
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under
CC BY-NC-ND
Substance Abuse in
the Home
Parents or families who have loved ones’
who struggle with substance abuse in
the home can be affected directly and
indirectly (Lipari & Van Horn, 2017).
 Students may display signs of abuse
or neglect due substance use inside
the home (Lipari & Van Horn, 2017).
 Students may display signs of hunger
due to lack of resources, dirty clothes,
tiredness.
 Students may display signs of anger,
worry, behavioral issues (Symptoms
of Children with Parents Who Abuse
Drugs, 2022).
 Older students may display signs of
being responsible for their younger
siblings or discuss having to be the
caretaker for their siblings and
parents.
 Adolescents or teens can display
different signs of potential
substance abuse, but these signs
can also be common behaviors
amongst adolescents or teens
(Warning Signs, n.d.). It is
imperative to monitor the
student’s behavior to help
determine whether it is signs of
substance abuse. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed
 Students may be defensive, under CC BY-SA
mood changes, tempers may
flare.
 The student may exhibit
academic issues, poor
attendance, grades are dropping,
and increased disciplinary

actions (Warning Signs, n.d).
Their friends may have changed,
SCHOOL
they may be spending time
together with a different crowd.
COUNSELOR
 They have become low energy,
exhibit a nothing matters
ROLE
attitude, no longer participating
or displaying interest in their
former interests (Warning Signs,
n.d).
Jazmin Quintana
 Hiding items, or things from
parents, teachers, and staff.
SCN-610
 Dilated or pinpointed pupils,
slurred speech, extreme
drowsiness, or surge or energy.
School Counselor’s
Role in Substance
Abuse Prevention
School counselors are part of the
prevention program and work to
provide additionally prevention services
to students (Allen, 2019).
 School counselors provide
support to students through
development of class lessons,
small group support and
individual therapy sessions
(Allen, 2019).
 School counselors also serve as
liaison between students,
parents, and different
community organizations who
can provide more support or
therapy for students or families
struggling with substance abuse
(Allen, 2019).
 Develop a trusting relationship
with students and create a safe
space for students to disclose
information.
 Coordinate parent courses, small
groups, community meetings or
classes that provide support to
students and families who
struggle with substance abuse
(Allen, 2019).
Resources and
Interventions
School counselors can refer and provide
different resources to families and
students. Ensuring families and students
have access to support outside and
inside of the school can ensure students
and families can work towards sobriety
and learn to cope in a positive way.
 Interventions such as modeling,
role playing, group talk therapy,
solution-focused brief therapy,
cognitive approaches, as well as
coping skills are techniques
which are beneficial to ensuring
students have the tools to
overcome their problems (Allen,
2019).
 Community agencies which are
available to the families and
students such as La Frontera,
COPE, and Sonoran Behavioral
Health provide support for
children, families, and parents
struggling.
 Community support is
imperative to helping school
counselor’s aide their students
and families, they provide more
in-depth support that addresses
larger issues which can be a
result of substance abuse.
References:
Allen, S. (2019). The school
counselor's role in Substance
Abuse Prevention. The School
Counselor's Role in Substance
Abuse Prevention - American
School Counselor Association
(ASCA). Retrieved from
https://www.schoolcounselor.or
g/newsletters/april-2019/the-
school-counselor
%E2%80%99s-role-in-
substance-abuse-pre
Lipari, R.N. and Van Horn, S.L.
(2017). Children living with
parents who have a substance
use disorder.  The CBHSQ
Report: Center for Behavioral
Health Statistics and Quality,
Substance Abuse and Mental
Health Services Administration,
Rockville, MD.
Warning signs. Warning Signs |
Youth.gov. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://youth.gov/youth-topics/su
bstance-abuse/warning-signs-
adolescent-substance-abuse
Symptoms of children with parents who
abuse drugs. The Right Step.
(2022). Retrieved from
https://www.rightstep.com/rehab-
blog/symptoms-children-parents-
abuse-drugs/