What Are The Signs of Risky Behavior in Teens?

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10 Warning Signs In Teenage Behaviors That Parents Should Be Aware Of

In our teen years, the brain isn’t fully developed. Youth may act out without understanding long-term consequences. With this in mind, it can be tough for parents to differentiate typical teenage experimentation and rebellion from risky behaviors.

Mental health issues and risky actions tend to go hand in hand. Getting help is crucial. It means your teen can develop the skills they need to overcome challenges. It can also prevent increasingly severe behaviors, symptoms, and outcomes.

What are the signs of risky behavior in teens? If your adolescent shows behavior that is more dangerous than what’s typical for their developmental stage, it’s a sign that you should seek support.

As a leader in compassionate behavioral health treatment, Artemis Adolescent Healing Center is here to help. Let’s go over ten serious warning signs of risky behavior in teens and how to respond as a parent.

10 Serious Warning Signs of Risky Behavior in Teens

While some risk-taking is common among adolescents, anything that puts your child or other people at risk is something to pay close attention to.

Here are 10 signs of risky behavior in teens to look out for.

1. Physical Abuse, Violent Behavior, or Threats

Any teen can get moody or upset. Violence is a different story. Any form of physical abuse or assault isn’t okay. Whether it’s directed at authority figures, siblings, animals, or someone else, it’s a warning sign to address immediately. Similarly, it’s vital not to overlook violent threats.

2. Stealing and Theft

When very young children take things, it is usually not an issue. Typically, they don’t yet understand that what they’re doing is wrong. When it comes to older children, it’s a different story. Teens might steal for many reasons.[1]

When it’s not because they can’t afford something they need (like food), some causes could be:

• Thrill seeking.
• Impulse control issues.
• A need for attention.
• Peer pressure.

Theft is also associated with some mental health problems. It’s linked to a higher risk of criminal activity in adulthood. And, it can come with legal repercussions.

Therapy can address the root causes. The goal is to prevent high risk behaviors at a later age, when the consequences may be even more serious.

3. Property Damage and Destruction

Although they may not involve physical harm to others, property damage and destruction are forms of violent behavior.[2] They can be signs of mental health concerns like conduct disorder. Like theft, these can lead to legal issues. It’s something parents should seek help for right away.

4. Underage Drinking and Drug Use

People who start using drugs and alcohol at a younger age are more likely to develop a substance use disorder. Since teens do not yet have fully developed brains, the risk of severe, lasting damage from substances is also higher.

Early intervention can help reduce the risk of increasingly severe substance use disorders. If a teen has a substance abuse problem–whether it’s alcohol, stimulants, misuse of prescription medications, or other drugs–it shouldn’t be passed off as a phase.

5. Unsafe or Reckless Driving

The likelihood of a motor vehicle crash is higher for those aged 16-19 than it is for any other age group. It’s the leading cause of death for teens in the US.[3] Risk factors for car crashes in teens include but aren’t limited to:

• Not wearing a sweatbelt.
• Speeding.
• Drinking.
• Using drugs.

All of these are dangerous behaviors. They could endanger your teen’s life and the lives of others.

6. Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation

Regardless of the cause, self-harm and suicidal ideation are always of serious concern. Even though they don’t always go together (self-injury does not necessarily indicate suicidality), both are signs of emotional distress and a need for professional help.

7. Unprotected Sexual Activity

Among high school students surveyed in 2023, 48% of those who had sex did not use a condom.[4] Just one night of unprotected sex can have long-term consequences:

• Sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
• Unwanted pregnancies.

Those in their teenage years need access to effective, inclusive sexual health education and contraceptive methods. Furthermore, families are encouraged to have open discourse about sexual health.[5]

People have unsafe sex for different reasons. If risky sexual behavior is a manifestation of impulsivity that pairs with other changes in behavior or daily functioning, it could be a sign of a mental health condition.

8. Dating Older People

If your teenager is dating someone who is too old for them, it is a major warning sign. Relationships with older people create power imbalances. These situations can create an opportunity for:

• Control and manipulation (e.g., manipulating teens to isolate themselves from family and friends).
• Increased emotional and mental health challenges.
• Lasting patterns of abuse.

This type of relationship may also increase the likelihood of other risk-taking behaviors. For example, unprotected sex and substance abuse.

9. Excessive Technology Use

Most teens use technology. Excessive use of technology, however, can be more serious. One study found that adolescents who spend five or more hours on digital devices per day are 70% more likely to have suicidal thoughts or actions than those who spend an hour or less.[6]

Non-school related technology use in teens may be a problem if:

• It is excessive.
• It causes sleep disruption.
• The teen shows signs of social media-driven distress.
• They show signs of withdrawal (e.g., irritability) when unable to access devices.
• Tech use interferes with responsibilities and self-care. For example, personal hygiene and school assignments.

Parents should also be wary of unsafe online behavior in teens. For example, cyberbullying, sharing personal information (e.g., what school they go to) with strangers, or accessing harmful (e.g., hateful, sexually explicit) material.

10. Eating Disorder Behaviors

Regardless of body size, eating disorder behaviors are something to be concerned about. These can include, but aren’t limited to:

• Food restriction.
• Binge eating.
• Purging (through vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or restriction).
• Eating non-food items, like chalk or clay (in cases of PICA).

Eating disorders can be fatal. If left unaddressed, they often get worse. Early detection and intervention are important for recovery.[7]

Normal Teen Behavior vs Risk Taking

Normal teen behavior tends to include:

• Irritability.
• Changes in friend groups, interests, and fashion.
• Spending more time with friends and peers instead of family members.
• Independent thought, sometimes questioning rules or authority.
• Testing boundaries.

Teens can do impulsive things. They might test the waters. For example, a teen might push back on their curfew. Typical rebellion is often situational or linked to specific frustrations.

Risk-taking behavior is more intense. For example, drinking while driving, ongoing drug use, or constant lashing out.

How to Respond to Warning Signs

It can be tempting to get angry at kids who display risky behaviors. However, it is important not to call your teen a ‘bad kid,’ a ‘juvenile delinquent,’ or to act as though it is a fixed part of their personality in any way.

When talking to teens, use a calm tone of voice. Be firm if you need to. Follow through with boundaries and consequences. If you’re angry, taking a moment to think through your response before reacting can be helpful.

Be mindful of the signs of mental health concerns. For example, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, or personality disorders. Understand that these are treatable. They aren’t your or your child’s fault.

Take any requests for help seriously. Listen. Validate their feelings (e.g., ‘that sounds hard.’) Stay involved and present, even if they withdraw.

Safety Planning and Immediate Steps

Overcoming mental health challenges and risky behavior can take time. But there are some steps parents might need to take immediately to protect their kids. For example:

• Remove access to any weapons or other lethal means. Prescription medicines with the potential for overdose, guns, and anything else teens might use to harm themselves, or others should be removed if they are at risk or might be.
• Build a safety plan. A safety plan usually includes a list of resources, such as helplines, emergency rooms, crisis centers, coping skills, and people teens can talk to when they are having a hard time.

Our team can help you figure out the next steps. We work on things like coping skill development, family dynamics, impulse control, and emotion regulation, depending on the needs of each individual client.

Inpatient vs Outpatient Treatment for Adolescents

Artemis offers a full continuum of care. This includes detox, inpatient care, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs for teens.

Inpatient care can be most suitable if:

• Your child would benefit from around-the-clock supervision. This can be important in teens who have trouble controlling risky behaviors, like self-harm. Inpatient care can help with stabilization and the development of healthier patterns.
• Your teen requires intensive therapy. Inpatient care provides daily therapy. If youth have more severe symptoms, this can be essential.

Outpatient programs can be ideal for:

• Teens who are transitioning out of a higher level of care (e.g., they’re leaving residential inpatient treatment and their team says they’re ready to step down to an outpatient program).
• Teens who are able to balance school with treatment.
• Teens with less severe symptoms.

If you’re not sure which program is best for your teen at this time, we can help.

Call Artemis for Support Addressing Risky Behavior in Teens

Personalized care for risky behavior in teens matters. Such behaviors can be associated with many different factors. They are best addressed with evidence-based treatments that target root causes as needed.

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center is an accredited treatment center for teens and adolescents in Tucson, AZ. We provide deeply personalized care, with loved ones closely involved in the process.

Call our admissions line for help navigating the signs of risky behaviors in teens today. Whether your teen needs inpatient care or less frequent outpatient therapy, our compassionate team is here. All communication is strictly confidential, so please reach out to get supportive options now.

References

1. Aacap. (n.d.-b). Stealing in Children and Adolescents. Stealing in children and adolescents. https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-Who-Steal-012.aspx
2. Aacap. (n.d.). Violent behavior in children and adolescents. https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Understanding-Violent-Behavior-In-Children-and-Adolescents-055.aspx
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-g). Risk factors for teen drivers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/risk-factors/index.html
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-g). Sexual risk behaviors. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/youth-behavior/risk-behaviors/sexual-risk-behaviors.html
5. World Health Organization. (n.d.-a). Alarming decline in adolescent condom use, increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies, reveals new who report. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/29-08-2024-alarming-decline-in-adolescent-condom-use–increased-risk-of-sexually-transmitted-infections-and-unintended-pregnancies–reveals-new-who-report