What Parents Should Look For

Most highly abused prescription medications and common slang terms you will see in text messages:

*Note: These images represent only a fraction of the prescription medications available for abuse!

The following early warning signs, should not be overlooked:

	Withdrawal  - Your child has withdrawn from family and/or has a LOSS of interest in things that were once important.
	Drop in academic/work performance - Check with teachers and/or employers about your child's performance.
	Loss of motivation/always tired - Do activities warrant your child's behavior?  Does your child have an underlying medical condition?
	Frequently finds ways to get away - Keep track of where your child is going, where he/she is going and where he/she says he/she will be.  Verify activities, check text messages, e-mails, and social networking accounts.
	Money issues - Users will become very manipulative and use every excuse to get money.
	Items missing from house - Users will do anything to support their addiction, including stealing from family and or others.
	Stories that don’t make sense – Addicts lie about everything.  Their stories become confusing and, often times, don’t make sense or directly contradict something they recently said.
	Storage areas - Regularly check bedrooms, bathrooms, cars, and backpacks.
	Paraphernalia – Look for foil, hollowed-out pens, hose clamps, etc.  Check the odometer in your child's car.  Kids are going to and from Mexico;  in some cases, several times a day.

Physical Symptoms of Use/Signs of Withdrawals:

- Extreme loss of appetite and weight - Depression - Watery/sunken eyes - Perpetually tired - Poor complexion or sickly appearance - Constipation - Drowsiness/falling asleep at odd times - Frequently sick, joint/muscle pain - Tremors, twitching, and excessive scratching - May appear intoxicated with no signs of alcohol use