- Withdrawing or keeping secrets from friends or family
- Losing interest in activities that used to be important
- Performing differently in school (such as grades dropping and frequent absences)
- Lying, stealing, or selling possessions to get money for drugs or alcohol
- General lack of motivation, energy, and self-esteem (i.e., an "I don't care" attitude)
- Sudden oversensitivity, temper tantrums, or resentful behavior
- Moodiness, irritability, or nervousness
It can be difficult for a person with a problem to recognize it on their own, so it often falls on administrators, family, and friends to take action when they perceive a substance abuse problem in a loved one. Fortunately, a variety of resources—some of which we've listed below—are available if you're looking to become more familiar with the topic.
For information on treatment centers, visit the Department of Health and Human Services' Treatment Services Locator here.
For an in-depth look on drug paraphernalia that students may be carrying, click here.
The Office of National Drug Control Policy's Web site has an extensive database containing more than 2,300 street terms referring to specific drug types or drug activity.
Articles on the effects of instituting random drug-testing policies in schools can be found here and here.
