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Warning Signs for Parents,
Teachers and Friends
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| Behaviour listed below is indication that a substance abuse problem may exist in a young persons life. If parents, school personnel or other significant persons in an adolescent's life observe these warning signs, a cooperative effort should be undertaken. An assessment should be made by a competent professional to determine if alcohol/chemical dependency exits, or if another problem requiring professional help is present. Once an appropriate assessment is made, treatment alternatives can be explored with the adolescent and family members. | |
| School/Academic Achievement | |
| . Sudden drop or gradual lowering of grades and achievement levels (reasons unclear). | |
| . Academic failure (sudden) | |
| . Skipping of classes or days | |
| . Drops out of sports and other extracurricular activities | |
| . Disrespect/defiance towards teachers, rules and regulations | |
| . Suspensions/expulsions | |
| . Inattentive in class | |
| . Increase in disciplinary actions at school ( or at home ). | |
| . Sleeps in class | |
| . Wanders in hallways or school grounds | |
| . Frequently asks to be excused | |
| . Lack of response to concern expressed by teacher, guidance consular or any school staff | |
| regarding any of the above | |
| . Excessive use of pager / beeper / telephone, or secretive about this contact. | |
| . Writes drug slang and phrases on school notebooks and yearbook | |
| Personal/Physical/Spiritual | |
| . Easily upset, emotional state changed rapidly Weight changes; drastic loss or gain | |
| . Smell of alcohol on breath Order of marijuana on clothing | |
| . Slurred speech or changes in speech pattern | |
| . More frequent physical injuries, bruises, scrapes or cuts | |
| . Burn marks on clothes , in car or on hands | |
| . Changes in hygiene , less care taken, wears same clothes over and over | |
| . Withdrawal from peers and family | |
| . Very defensive especially concerning drugs and or alcohol using behavior | |
| . Changes in sexual behavior | |
| . Blatant defiance , argumentative even hostile to parents | |
| . Alcohol hangovers : throwing up, increased anxiety , headaches, shakes | |
| . Reddened eyes and frequent use of Eye drops Deep nagging persistent cough, raspy sounding | |
| throat Lethargic attitudes , poor motivation, seems to lose interest in many areas | |
| . Undisciplined; doesn't get things done on time or as agreed | |
| . Blackouts; periods of memory loss | |
| . Sometimes inappropriately happy; sometimes inexplicably depressed | |
| . Nervous, agitated, trouble sitting still less hopeful and more cynical about life | |
| . Financial management erratic ; spending more, needs more | |
| . Paraphernalia kept; rolling papers, pipes, roach clips, eye drops etc. | |
| . Possession of pharmaceutical drugs like Ritalin or cough medicine, cold medicine, motion | |
| sickness without any medical reason. | |
| . Sudden change in slang; "Druggie" behavior observable, profanity | |
| . Talk of suicide or suicide attempts | |
| . Visits to emergency room or psychiatric unit due to overdoses or mental instability | |
| . Secretiveness | |
| Friends and peer Group | |
| . Changing attitude toward "straight" friends who don't use drugs or alcohol | |
| . Change in peer group with little interest in old friends. Parents don't know friends; can't get | |
| names or addresses | |
| . Begins to associate with older crowd | |
| . Fights with peers | |
| Community/Legal | |
| . Drinking While Impaired and/or drug-related arrests | |
| . Accidents or near misses | |
| . Speeding/carelessness on highway | |
| . Thefts, assaults, or other infringements of law | |
| . Sales of drugs, alcohol | |
| . Drinking underage or in public parks | |
| . Illegal possession of drugs | |
| If parents, school personnel or other significant persons in an adolescent's life observe these warning signs, a cooperative effort should be undertaken. An assessment should be made by a competent professional to determine if alcohol/chemical dependency exits, or if another problem requiring professional help is present. | |
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