Commentary
The following is a list of symptoms that may indicate alcohol or drug usage
- Behavior changes
- Extreme mood swings (e.g., easy temperament may be nasty, irritable, defiant)
- Unreasonable anger at inappropriate times and not in proportion to situation; especially when parents or youth ministers interfere with their plans.
- Lying
- Change of friends
- sudden avoidance of old friends
- new friends not known to youth ministers or parents
- new friends home or to the program
- friends known to be involved with drugs
- Consistently avoids contact with family
- spends most time away from home
- comes home and goes directly to room, does not interact with anyone
- spends a lot of time sleeping in front of the TV set
- receives many phone calls from unknown friends;
- does not want parents to pick up the phone;
- calls take place behind closed doors in hushed voices
- Eating habits
- loss of weight;
- avoidance of meals, “not hungry”
- loss of appetite; can usually “explain” reason
- has “munchies” (i.e., eats an unusually large amount of junk food.)
- School problems
- drop in performance and grades
- parent being called to school because of problems
- unreasonable behavior
- accused of stealing
- unusual amount of tardiness, missed classes, absenteeism, usually without parents’ prior knowledge
- Change in activities, hobbies, loss of interest in previously important activities
- discontinuation of favorite hobbies and pastimes
- general lack of motivation to do anything; boredom, “I don’t care” attitude
- Questionable money management
- inability to explain where money, even large sums, is spent
- possession of a lot of money from an unknown source
- some fairly expensive items that cannot be reasonably explained
- does many things that cost money even when he/she has none
- Appearance/Disappearance of “things”
- possessions disappear always with excuses
- sandwich bags, aluminum foil in pockets
- regular use of eye drops
- drug related objects always with an explanation
- empty liquor bottles
- watered down liquor in parent’s liquor cabinet
- Illness
- frequently “ill” in the morning and stays home from school
- frequently comes home from school “ill”
- makes miraculous recoveries in evening and has to go out
- Smells of alcohol or marijuana smoke
- Looks glassy-eyed, mumbles, isn’t coherent