‘Hidden in Plain Sight’ shows parents how to spot risky teen behaviors

A messy teen bedroom filled with school supplies, snacks and everyday clutter might not raise any red flags at first glance. But at the “Hidden in Plain Sight” event April 16, adults were encouraged to look closer.

Hosted at Mountain View Middle School in Bremerton, the free event featured a walk-through mock bedroom where participants were asked to identify more than 70 items that could indicate risky or concerning behavior in youth, including drug use, mental health struggles, and signs of trafficking or unhealthy relationships.

Some of those items were everyday products that could easily be overlooked, like Visine eye drops, often used to mask red or irritated eyes from substance use, or vape pens designed to look like USB flash drives. Their presence in a teen’s room might not raise suspicion right away, but the event emphasized that knowing what to look for can make all the difference.

Led by Jennifer Dorsett, a certified prevention specialist and chemical dependency professional with the state Traffic Safety Commission, the program focused on education, awareness, and equipping adults with tools to navigate tough conversations with teens.

“We have to help kids figure themselves out,” Dorsett said. “Because we don’t want them leaning into risky behaviors just to cope.”

Dorsett noted that the leading reason teens engage in drug use has shifted in recent years. While peer pressure used to be top of the list, today’s youth more commonly turn to substances as a way of coping with stress and life situations.

“We don’t all cope with stress with a smile,” she said. “Some kids are brand new to these feelings, and we have to help them through those hard moments.”

The presentation also tackled the big three “gateway drugs” that remain legal at age 21: nicotine, marijuana, and alcohol.

“If we can reduce drug use in these three areas, we reduce all other drug use across the board,” Dorsett said. “This is where we see the highest rates of addiction.”

Nicotine, in particular, is the number one drug violation in every school across Washington state, she said. Whether it’s smoking, chewing, or vaping, students often become quickly dependent due to the stimulant’s fast withdrawal cycle—just 15 to 20 minutes after last use.

“Nicotine is one of the most addictive stimulants out there,” she explained. “And withdrawal can start before a student even finishes the first period.”

Dorsett also highlighted the historical shift in public attitudes around smoking. In the 1950s and ’60s, about 50% of Americans smoked cigarettes. Decades of public health campaigns and policies like the Clean Air Act have reduced that to under 10% today, showing that sustained environmental change can lead to big results.

But when it comes to marijuana and alcohol, Dorsett said the tide has shifted in the opposite direction. Legalization of recreational marijuana in 2012 and privatization of alcohol sales in Washington have contributed to normalization, particularly for young people, who see promotional billboards on their daily commutes.

“These environmental changes work against prevention,” she said. “So we have to double down on having honest conversations at home.”

Dorsett encouraged parents to talk with their kids about what they see, how it makes them feel, and to keep those lines of communication open. “The goal is to normalize the conversation, not the behavior.”

She also urged attendees to view data not just as numbers, but as real people and lives impacted. “Six percent may not sound like a lot, but that’s one out of every 15 kids,” she said. “That’s a lot of kids. And those numbers represent people.”

In addition to substance use, the presentation highlighted results from the Washington Healthy Youth Survey, which tracks student-reported behaviors and concerns. Dorsett noted that bullying remains a significant issue, particularly in middle schools. In one local eighth-grade group, 26% reported experiencing bullying at school, compared to 15% of 10th graders. Cyberbullying, which includes online messaging platforms and social media, affected 17% of eighth graders and 14% of 10th graders.

“It’s always higher in middle school,” Dorsett said. “That’s a key time when kids are struggling with identity, peer groups, and access to technology.”

She emphasized that kids’ life stressors may seem small to adults, but feel huge to them.

“When my kid doesn’t text me all day, I’m like, ‘Great!’ But when their best friend doesn’t talk to them, it’s a big deal,” she said. “We have to respect what their lives feel like to them.”