SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Please refer to community resources for individual, support groups or treatment facilities for help.

SIGNS OF POSSIBLE DRUG ABUSE

Behavior Changes

  • Poor academic performance

  • Change friends or social circles

  • Decreased interest in activities and hobbies

  • Becoming defiant, uncooperative, ignoring rules

  • Complaints from teachers, classmates, etc.

Psychological Changes

  • Manipulative or deceitful behavior

  • Extreme highs and lows

  • Decreased motivation

  • Low energy or lethargic

  • Slurred or rapid fire speech

Health Problems

  • Sudden weight loss or gain

  • Sleep disturbances

  • Vomiting or nausea

  • Coordination problems

  • Nosebleeds (can occur from the snorting of drugs)

  • Excessive thirst (can occur due to marjuana use

Personal Appearance

  • Poor hygiene

  • Blood shot eyes

  • Constant scratching can be a common sign of opiate use

  • Pinpoint pupils can be a common sign of opiate use

  • Burns on fingers and lips

  • Wearing long sleeves in warm weather to cover up track marks on arms

  • Smelling like drugs, alchohol or an unusual odor

Other Signs

  • Teenagers personal space smelling of incense or strong perfumes to cover odors

  • Missing cigarettes, medications, alcohol, etc.

  • Missing money or valuable items that can be pawned for drugs

  • Finding drug paraphernalia, (balloons, tin foil, cut up straws, Ziploc bags, needles, vials, etc) residue or stashes

Information obtained from drugabuse.com

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