Early Warning Signs of Drug Abuse

Signs in the Home
• loss of interest in family activities
• disrespect for family rules
• withdrawal from responsibilities
• verbally or physically abusive
• sudden increase or decrease in appetite
• disappearance of valuable items or money
• not coming home on time
• not telling you where they are going
• constant excuses for behavior
• spending a lot of time in their rooms
• lies about activities
• finding the following: cigarette rolling papers,
  pipes, roach clips, small glass vials, plastic
  baggies, remnants of drugs (seeds, etc.)

Signs at School
• sudden drop in grades
• truancy
• loss of interest in learning
• sleeping in class
• poor work performance
• not doing homework
• defiant of authority
• poor attitude towards sports or other
  extracurricular activities
• reduced memory and attention span
• not informing you of teacher meetings,
  open houses, etc.

Physical and Emotional Signs
• changes friends
• smell of alcohol or marijuana on breath or body
• unexplainable mood swings and behavior
• negative, argumentative, paranoid or confused,
  destructive, anxious
• over-reacts to criticism
• acts rebellious
• sharing few if any of their personal problems
• doesn't seem as happy as they used to be
• overly tired or hyperactive
• drastic weight loss or gain
• unhappy and depressed
• cheats, steals
• always needs money, or has excessive
  amounts of money
• sloppiness in appearance