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Behavior Checklist
Behavior Checklist Substance Abuse
Module: Translucent Truth
Step: Two
Objective:
To create a quick history showing potential changes in behavior. The intent is not to find fault or wrong with your (your teen's) behavior. Rather, it is to take a "snapshot" of various points in time beginning with your first experience with drugs through today.
Instructions:
Take a copy of this worksheet to a place where you feel sage and won't be interrupted. Read each of the following behaviors and check those that you may have seen in yourself(your teen). Do not worry about "proving" whether or not the behavior actually existed. Simply follow your first instinct.
To be Completed:
by teen by parent by both
individually together
My Behavior Checklist
Think back to the timeframe when you (your teen) first started useing drugs or alcohol. Quickly read each of the following behaviors and check those that reflect experiences in your(your teen's) life since that time. Estimate your (teen's) age when the behavior was first seen, identifying the year and approximate month. If, for instance, I remember an experience when I (my teen) was 15 and 3 months, write "15.3" in the appropriate line.
Behavior
Approx. Age
Behavior
Approx. Age
Change in personality
Sudden oversensitivity
Change in friends
Excessive need for privacy
Change in habits & hobbies
Secretive behavior
Change in activities
Forgetfulness
Loss of interest in family activities
Often Moody
New hang-outs
Often Irritable
Sudden avoidance of old crowd
Overall Nervousness
Doesn't want to talk about friends
Silly or giddy
Skips school frequently
Paranoia
Late to classes frequently
Chronic dishonesty
Suspended from school
Change in grooming habits
Difficulty in paying attention
Excessive showering
Behavior
Approx. Age
Behavior
Approx. Age
General lack self-esteem
Excessive cologne or scents
General lack of motivation
Unusual marks on clothing
General lack of energy
Avoids parent when arriving home
Easily upset or quick to react
Lies to get money
Frequent displays of anger
Stealing money or items
Frequent emotional outbursts
Frequent visits to doctor
Frequent mood swings
Blames others for problems
Requires an excessive amount of
attention and support
Repeat car accidents
Excessive cleaning
Threatens others who confront
their drug use
Irregularly kind and sensative to
caretaker\s needs and wishes
Irrationally believes they are going
to be harmed by others
Unstable or extreme relationships
Uses siblings to manipulate others
Pushes people away but then
desperately wants them back
Justifies hurting others who fail to
do what they want them to do
Behavior
Approx. Age
Behavior
Approx. Age
Fails to change or learn from
repeated mistakes
Friends of family suspect drug paraphernalia
Unable to see things from another
person's point of view
Justifies evidence of drug use
Reacts to criticism with feelings
of intense guilt or depression
Believes they can stop if they want
Misses commitments and does not
follow through on promises
Admit use of "less dangerous" drugs
to avoid focus on harder drugs
Symptoms of anxiety or panic
Can't go one month without using
Symptoms of depression
Feels the urge to use drugs several
times a week
Destructive thoughts and behavior
Doesn't stop using drugs until
the supply of drugs is gone
Unexplained need for money
Sacrifices basic necessities to
pay for drugs
Unexplained loss of money
Sacrifices previously enjoyed
activities to pay for drugs
Unexplained abscence from work
Starts a treatment program but
does not cooperate
Can't keep a job
Increase in legal problems
Missing items around the home
Demonstrates criminal behavior
After completing the above checklist, ensure that you have the associated age listed next to each checked behavior. If you are unsure of the age, insert a rough guess and mark with a "?". When complete, print this page and set it aside for later use.