          | Searching...  What are the warning signs that my teen may be using drugs?
Signs in the Home
►verbally or physically abusive
►sudden increase or decrease in appetite
►disappearance of valuable items or money
►not telling you where they are going
►constant excuses for behavior
►spending a lot of time in their rooms
►finding the following: cigarette rolling papers, pipes, roach clips, small glass vials, plastic baggies, remnants of drugs (seeds, etc.)
Signs at School
►truancy
►loss of interest in learning
►poor work performance
►defiant of authority
►poor attitude toward sports or other extracurricular activities
►reduced memory and attention span
►not informing you of teacher meetings, open houses, etc.
Physical and Emotional Signs
►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
►cheats, steals
►always needs money, or has excessive amounts of money
►sloppiness in appearance
Source: CDC.
The following factors have been associated with illicit drug use by teens:
►Dropping out of school (highest rate of drug use among h.s. drop outs)
►Poor performance in school
►Smoking cigarettes (8 times higher risk than nonsmokers)
►Alcohol use (60% of persons aged 12 and older who were heavy drinkers reported illicit drug use, compared to 5% of nondrinkers)
►Marijuana Use
►Access to prescription meds (almost 60% of persons ages 12 and older reported getting drugs from a friend or family member)
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