The signs that indicate a possible drug use

The signs that indicate a possible drug use could be typical and atypical. The atypical signs can occur in one form or another during the adolescence crisis even if there is no factual drug use. The typical signs indicate of a drugs use but they are usually discovered in a rather late phase from the parents.

Atypical signs

Behavior:

• Apathy, passiveness, continual reticence,
• Unstable mood, overreacting, nervousness, euphoria, irritation,
• Confusion, contradictions, difference between words and actions,
• Lies, fabrications, threats, blackmails, manipulations,
• Loss of perception of time, frequently forgetting things, lack of punctuality.

Appearance:

• Unhealthy pale complexion, loss of weight, shivering,
• Being physically neglectful, including clothes and personal hygiene,
• Being neglectful about personal space, room or apartment,
• Dilated (amphetamine) or constricted (heroin) pupils

Relationships with relatives and close friends:

• Hostile, avoiding, closed or puzzling behavior,
• Refusal of communication,
• Avoiding contacts with family,
• Change of the friend’s circle, loss of "good" friends, being visited from drug users, frequent phone calls from strangers.

School and work:

• Decrease of achievements in school, decrease of attention and concentration capacity,
• Being absent, irregular attendance, dropping out,
• Frequent conflicts with school authorities,
• Lack of interest, disgust, leaving school or job.

Finances and law:

• Frequent need for money without it being invested in something visible, finding strange explanations for the money spent,
• Financial difficulties, debts,
• Incriminating activities, selling of substances, prostitution, problems with police.

Social marginality:

• Loss of social values and principles,
• Denial of having structured free time (sport, hobby), wandering,
• Having difficulties with social integration, belonging to marginal groups, a way of life that is outside the law.

Typical signs

• Availability of a substance possessed by the child or in the house of the child: marihuana, other psychologically active substances,
• Availability of "tools" for drugs consumption (paraphernalia): burned spoon, syringe, tin foil, pipes, others,
• Traces of pricks on the arms, legs, hips, other places,
• Positive drug test results.