Hidden Stashes: How Teen’s Hide Substances from Parents

Updated and Fact-Checked August 2024 by: Mike Carter, LCDC 

Update list:

  • Added new places
  • Added signs of drug abuse for teens.
  • Added insights to look for help.

Ingenious Hiding Spots for Drugs

As unnerving as it may be to admit, teens have proven to be resourceful when it comes to hiding drugs, similar to how addicts hide their substances.

Teens use a wide range of ingenious methods for concealing drugs, from everyday items to secret spaces in vehicles.

A hidden compartment inside a highlighter; call us if your child is suffering from substance abuse.

Everyday Items with Hidden Compartments

Teens have gotten creative on where to hide drugs. They have found spots around the home, vehicles if they have one, and are especially creative with hiding spots around the room. Below we will explore some creative, yet common hiding spots teens may hide substances.

Items Around the House

The most common, yet overlooked, items can serve as excellent hiding spots. Highlighters, makeup containers, jewelry boxes and pens, items that seem harmless, can be modified to store drugs.

It can be difficult to spot some of these. For example you may not notice an empty highlighter or a pen repurposed for substance ingestion can be challenging.

Secret compartments can even be incorporated into calculators – an essential school supply, making them an ideal hideout.

Secret Spaces in Vehicles

A glove compartment in a car; call us if your child is suffering from substance abuse.

Illicit drugs can be hidden in a multitude of spots within vehicles. Some common locations where teens hide drugs include:

  • Under the seats

  • In glove compartments

  • Within door panels

  • In the vehicle’s wheel or tire

These small spaces, although seemingly obvious, often go unnoticed due to their everyday use.

In Plain Sight: Disguising Drugs as Ordinary Objects

Concealing drugs in plain sight is arguably the most cunning method to conceal drugs. By disguising drugs as everyday items, teens may hide drugs in candy wrappers, snack bags, gum packages, cough medicine bottles, or shaving cream bottles.

Cans and Containers Made to Store Drugs 

The sole purpose of stash cans and containers is drug concealment. These containers are often designed to look like around the house items such as soda cans, shaving cream, or canned foods. They have false bottoms to stash drugs and usually conceal the smell of drugs such as marijuana.

Teens can easily access these stash cans as they are readily available from local smoke shops, retailers or online distributors.

Clothing and Accessories with Secret Pockets

Teens may also hide drugs in clothing and accessories. This could be in their drawers or clothing.  Some examples include clothing with hidden pockets in the sleeves, underwear or accessories like belt buckles that have been modified to conceal drugs. 

Drug concealment is taken a step further with drug paraphernalia that one may not think is paraphernalia. These items are designed to resemble everyday items so that they are harder to detect. Some examples include:

  • Straws, hollow pens, rolled-up paper, or bills for snorting cocaine
  • Small mirrors, credit cards, or razor blades for cutting cocaine
  • Weed pipes that look like lipstick or pencils 

Bedroom and Bathroom 

Drugs can be stashed in numerous locations within room decor and furniture.In bedrooms teens may hide drugs behind posters, picture frames or in DVD cases. Furniture with secret drawers or false bottoms provide additional hiding spots. 

One place often overlooked is the bathroom. This can be a potential hiding spot for drugs such as inside the toilet, underneath the back of the bowl or inside air vents.

Outdoor Hideouts

This may include spots outside of the house such as the garage, shed, treehouses. It can also include discreet places in your neighborhood or even abandoned lots or buildings.

A bookshelf with hidden compartments; call us if your child is suffering from substance abuse.

How to Recognize and Address Drug Use Among Teens

An important step in prevention and intervention is the recognition of drug use among teens.
From identifying warning signs of drug use to understanding the importance of communication and support to seeking professional help, there are several ways to address this issue.

Warning Signs of Teen Drug Use 

Being mindful and staying observant is the starting point for identifying signs of drug use among teens. Some potential signs of substance abuse include:

  • Abrupt shifts in social circles
  • Heightened defiance or disrespect
  • Withdrawal from family engagements
  • A decline in academic performance
  • A sudden increase in the use of mouthwash, breath sprays, or mints

These signs should be taken seriously and further investigation may be necessary.

Supporting Your Teen with A Drug Problem 

When dealing with teen drug abuse, open communication and support are of paramount importance. Making sure your home is a safe space to talk about drugs is key. Here are some ways parents can offer assistance:

  • Maintain awareness of your teenager’s frequent whereabouts
  • Understand their commute to school
  • Familiarize themselves with the peers they associate with
  • Be mindful of the kind of content they consume 

Seeking Professional Help

If you identify warning signs of a substance abuse problem in your teen, it’s important to reach out for professional support to help find the best plan of treatment. 

At Clearfork Academy our team of compassionate, licensed therapists understands the complex nature of substance abuse disorder in teens. Reach out to our Admissions team to learn more. 

Find the Solution with Clearfork Academy

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