“I think my child might have be involved with drugs, how can I tell, what can I do about it?”

There are several commonly recognized symptoms of substance use, some are very obvious and some are subtle. Below is a list containing some of the behaviors commonly encountered with children involved with drugs. Recognition of these symptoms in your child doesn't automatically mean he or she is using, it merely suggests you should consider watching them more closely, seeking the help of a drug prevention or treatment professional, or visiting with someone trained in drug addiction and intervention.

• Rapid Decline in School Grades
• Change in Friends or Peer Groups
• Tendency to React Violently Without
  Provocation/Mood Swings
• Consistently Breaks Curfew
• Attendance in School Declines
• Loses Interest in Hobbies or Favorite Activities
• Secretive, Acts as if Hiding Something
• Difficulty Concentrating
• Household Monies Frequently Missing
• Presence of Drug Paraphernalia
• Inability to Sleep or Sleeps Excessively
• Rapid Weight Loss
• Loss of Pride in Appearance
• Paranoid, Accuses Caregiver of Spying or
  Telling on Them
• Appearance of Skin Lesions or Track Marks
• Wears Clothing or Carries Items Glorifying Drug Use
  (Marijuana Leaf)
• Teeth Grinding or Pre Mature Tooth Decay/Loss
• Jittery, Twitchy, Restless, or Agitated
  More than Normal
• Increased Run-Ins with Authority
  (Police/School Officials)
• Depression
• Overly Dilated or Constricted Pupils
• Disorientation
• Hallucinations
• Unexplained Nausea, Vomiting, or Stupor
• Rapid Heart Rate
• Tendency to Manipulate
• Apathy

Being involved with your child is not a cliché, it really works. Make no excuse for not addressing drug use in your home or school. One parent with whom I recently spoke put it best; “ I didn't really care who my son was spending time with or if he was smoking pot in his room, I respected his privacy. Now he’s 34, unemployed, living in my basement, and sleeping on my couch”.