Behaviour patterns in yound people that might indicate substance abuse?

Answer 1

Being secretive, moments of manic highs followed by extreme lows, tiredness - sleeping through the day and awake at night, money or stuff going missing, dropping out of school or work, becoming withdrawn, red eyes , getting the munchies late at night. These are all some of the symptoms that can be seen. The best way to find out is TALK to the young person involved. If you talk reasonably and not shout or dictate - alot of kids will own up xxxx

Answer 2

Red, glassy eyes from pot; hugely dilated or extremely pinpointed pupils from crack, meth or heroin; dark circles under the eyes from lack of sleep on stimulants. Disheveled appearance in a person who is normally well-dressed. No money even just after payday or allowance. Avoids family after being out with friends from the smell of the drugs. Mood swings, especially if before leaving they are secretive, moody and angry and when they come home they are happy, silly, incoherent or stumbling. Hiding things from you in their rooms, and becoming angry if anyone goes into their private area. Lack of appetite if several drugs, or if another drug, overeating anything and everything.
I hope this helped somewhat.

Answer 3

Well I used to be one of them, so I'd say look for:

dilated pupils
unusually bad hangovers in the morning
cigarettes butts that haven't a yellow nicotene mark in the centre of the white filter (i.e haven't been used)
rizla papers
rolled up £ notes, mirrors, any sort of razor sharp object.
magazines (or any reasonably stiff paper) with rectangular shapes cut from them
staying out late every night
lack of concern
going through large amounts of money
look for small tins or locked drawers, look inside them.
confront them when they come home late at night
erratic mood swings (more than standard hormonal developments)
extreme lethargy
extreme secrecy

Answer 4

A general characteristic of drug use is a change of mood: one minute someone can be very cheerful and the next minute very depressed, or one minute be present and the next minute be absent. Continuous use causes less achievement and makes someone's life become more and more focused on drugs.
Each substance has its own characteristics: go to the sight below to view.

Answer 5

Mood swings
Loss of appetite
Hyperactive

But teenagers are VERY fickle & can cover their tracks well, some can be dabbling in drugs for a long time before being found out

Answer 6

staying in their room alot, Not wanting to go places and do things with you and the family, tired all the time. don't be a fraid to search their entire room. it's your house and you are responsible for them even after they are 18.