Warning signs that a teen may be considering suicide:

Change in eating and sleeping habits
Withdrawal from friends, family, and regular activities
Violent or rebellious behavior, running away
Drug and alcohol use
Unusual neglect of personal appearance
Persistent boredom, difficulty concentrating, or a decline in the quality of schoolwork
Frequent complaints about physical symptoms, often related to emotions, such as stomachaches, headaches, fatigue, etc.
Rejecting praise or rewards

Source: American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

TALKING TO TEENS OR FAMILY MEMBER ABOUT SUICIDE

If you spot the warning signs of suicide in someone you care about, you may wonder if it’s a good idea to say anything. What if you’re wrong? What if the person gets angry? In such situations, it’s natural to feel uncomfortable or afraid. But anyone who talks about suicide or shows other warning signs needs immediate help—the sooner the better.

Talking to a friend or family member about their suicidal thoughts and feelings can be extremely difficult for anyone. But if you’re unsure whether someone is suicidal, the best way to find out is to ask. You can’t make a person suicidal by showing that you care. In fact, giving a suicidal person the opportunity to express his or her feelings can provide relief from loneliness and pent-up negative feelings, and may prevent a suicide attempt.

Ways to start a conversation about suicide:

“I have been feeling concerned about you lately.”

“Recently, I have noticed some differences in you and wondered how you are doing.”

“I wanted to check in with you because you haven’t seemed yourself lately.”

Questions you can ask:

“Did something happen to make you start feeling this way?”

“How can I best support you right now?”

“Have you thought about getting help?”

What you can say that helps:

“You are not alone in this. I’m here for you.”

“You may not believe it now, but the way you’re feeling will change.”

“I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but I care about you and want to help.”

“When you want to give up, tell yourself you will hold off for just one more day, hour, minute—whatever you can manage.”

TEENS AND DRUGS STATS

1. Approximately 50% of teens have misused drugs (prescription or illicit) at least once in their life.3
2. 23.6% of 12th grade students have reported using illicit drugs in the last year.2
3. 6.5% of 8th grade students have reported using marijuana in the last 30 days.2
4. 7.5% of teens reported that they had smoked marijuana for the first time before the age of 13.4
5. 14.8% of 10th grade students have reported using marijuana in the last 30 days.2
6. 21.3% of 12th grade students have reported using marijuana in the last 30 days.2
7. 34.9% of 12th grade students have reported using marijuana in the last year.2
8. 7.7% of 12th grade students have reported non-medical use of amphetamines in the last year.2
9. 7.5% of 12th grade students have reported non-medical use of Adderall in the last year.2
10. 5.4% of 12th grade students have reported non-medical use of prescription painkillers in the last year.2
11. 5.2% of 12th grade students have reported using synthetic cannabinoids (K2, Spice) in the last year.2
12. Reported use in the past year of OxyContin, sedatives, MDMA (ecstasy), LSD, other hallucinogens, cocaine, Ritalin, inhalants, and Salvia among 12th grade students were each less than 4%.2
13. Teens often have access to prescription pills or inhalants within their home.3
14. The majority of adolescents that abuse prescription opioid painkillers are able to obtain them from friends or family members, with about 33% obtaining prescriptions of their own.5

Sources
1. National Center for Children in Poverty. Adolescent substance use in the U.S.
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse. DrugFacts: High school and youth trends.
3. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Substance abuse.
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in the prevalence of marijuana, cocaine, and other illegal drug use.
5. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Drug use trends remain stable or decline among teens.
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trends in the prevalence of alcohol use.
7. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Underage drinking.