An interactive experience in Augusta this week gives parents tips on how to look for clues to drug and alcohol use in their teens.

I wish something like this had been available when I was raising three teenage boys.I got lucky, with three sons who stayed away from drugs and alcohol. Still, it was scary when they hit the teen years. It prompted me to look through their rooms while they were at school for any signs of drug use. But kids are smart. They can hide things in places you'd never think to check, like in that soda can sitting next to their bed.

That's what the forum 'Hidden In Plain Sight' addresses. Organizers from Somerset Public Health and other agencies have set up a typical teenager's bedroom at the Augusta Civic Center. Parents are encouraged to stop by and learn more about typical hiding places, lingo, signs and symptoms that their children might be using drugs or alcohol. There will also be drug paraphernalia at the event, so parents can learn to recognize them.

Seminars are being held from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.,Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, and from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. You must be over 21 to take part. Find more information on the event's Facebook page.

More From WQCB Brewer Maine