Signs of Teen Drug Abuse SoberCollege.com Teen Drug Abuse Are you concerned that your child is using drugs or alcohol? Whether you are concerned about changes in appearance or behavior Sober College can help you find out more about a range of symptoms associated with drug use. Table of Contents: Symptoms Drug Types ......................................................................................................................................................... 2 Red eyes ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Weight loss ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Cuts, sores or bruises...................................................................................................................................... 5 Deterioration of physical appearance .......................................................................................................... 6 Shakes and tremors ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Anger issues ..................................................................................................................................................... 8 Financial difficulties ....................................................................................................................................... 9 Erratic behavior ................................................................................................................................................ 10 Deceit .................................................................................................................................................................. 11 Nosebleeds ....................................................................................................................................................... 12 Loss of motivation .......................................................................................................................................... 13 Seizures ............................................................................................................................................................. 14 Sources .............................................................................................................................................................. 15 Images ................................................................................................................................................................ 16 SoberCollege.com SoberCollege.com1 Drug Types Some of the most popular recreational drugs used by young people are alcohol, marijuana, stimulants and opiates. Use and abuse of these drugs can cause several physical and behavioral problems. Alcohol Stimulants Opiates Using alcohol can result in red Using stimulants such as Using heroin or other eyes, weight loss, shakes and cocaine can result in weight opiates can result in tremors, financial problems, loss, shakes and tremors, weight loss, cuts, sores or erratic behavior, nosebleeds and erratic behavior, nosebleeds, bruises, financial seizures. financial difficulties, deceit, problems, deceit, cuts, sores or bruises, anger deterioration of physical Marijuana issues, deceit, loss of appearance, anger issues Using marijuana can result in red motivation and seizures. and a loss of motivation. eyes, loss of motivation, financial problems, deceit and deterioration of physical appearance. SoberCollege.com SoberCollege.com2 Red Eyes Does your child suffer from What are the causes? Drugs bloodshot or red eyes? If only one eye is affected it is Marijuana Red eyes are the result of unlikely to be due to drug use. If Alcohol dilated blood vessels on the the eyes are only affected for a outside of the eye. short period of time it is likely to Other be due to drug or alcohol use: Conjunctivitis What is it? Marijuana contains THC, which Allergies Red eye is the swelling or causes significant dilation of Computer vision syndrome dilation of blood vessels on the blood vessels on both eyes, and Eye injuries and ulcers outer surface of the eye. This lasts several hours. condition can flare up suddenly Alcohol decreases the flow of or develop slowly over time, and oxygen to red blood cells, can affect one or both eyes. causing blood vessels to cluster, sometimes resulting in What are the symptoms? red, bloodshot eyes. Painful, itchy, swollen or irritated eyes. Sufferers may Medical explanations include experience blurred vision or conjunctivitis, allergies, discharge. computer vision syndrome, eye injuries and ulcers. SoberCollege.com SoberCollege.com3 Weight Loss Has your child experienced What are the causes? Alcohol can also rapidly alter sudden weight loss? Weight loss can occur for many eating habits and, like Weight loss is linked to several reasons, including loss of marijuana which increases types of drug abuse. appetite, increased exercise, appetite, a side effect can be stress, and drugs use. weight gain as well as loss. What is it? A sudden loss of weight is a Weight loss can be caused by Drugs possible side effects of many stimulants like cocaine, Amphetamines types of drug abuse. methamphetamines and Methamphetamines amphetamines, which Cocaine What are the symptoms? suppress the appetite and Alcohol Weight loss may be gradual or speed up metabolism. sudden, significant or subtle. Other Drug abusers may try to hide It also can result from the Increased exercise their weight loss by wearing lifestyle involved in drug abuse: Reduced calorie intake loose clothing. people abusing stimulants can Stress go on binges during which they Overworked thyroid gland refrain from eating for days at a Depression time. It is, however, not unusual for teenagers to experience weight fluctuations. SoberCollege.com SoberCollege.com4 Cuts, sores or bruises Does your child have physical What are the causes? deficiencies, so many symptoms such as track marks, Bruising, red marks, and sores mysterious bruises can be a bruises, sores or burns? can be left by a needle when a sign of general drug use. Drug abusers generally bruise drug like heroin is injected. Track more easily than non-users, so marks are the darkening of veins However, sometimes many mysterious bruises can be due to scarring and toxin unexplained bruises can be a a sign of drug use. build-up from injecting drugs like sign of a different medical heroin or meth (IV drug use). condition unrelated to drugs, What is it? such as a bleeding disorder, Drug abuse will leave physical One effect of meth is having the inflammation of blood signs on the body, varying from sensation of bugs under your vessels, infection or disease. track marks and bruises to sores skin, and it is the compulsive and burns. picking of the skin which can Drugs cause sores. Burns on the hands Heroin What are the symptoms? and around the mouth can be a Meth Track marks from heroin or other sign of crack and meth abuse: Crack intravenous drugs range from hot pipes and scorching smoke small red marks to sores and can cause burns on the lips. Other bruises, and they form clusters Disease down the inside of the arm. Drug abusers on the whole Infection People who abuse meth or crack bruise more easily than Inflammation of blood will also frequently have sores on non-users, due to the stress vessels their face and body, or burn placed on the body and the Bleeding disorder marks on the face and hands. subsequent nutritional SoberCollege.com SoberCollege.com5 Deterioration of physical appearance Has your child’s appearance Drugs users may wear drastically alter their diminished over time? sunglasses at odd times to appearance or to want to look Drug users often overlook conceal bloodshot eyes, or wear deliberately disheveled hygiene and a drug habit can long-sleeved garments in an lead to complacency about attempt to hide possible track Drugs appearance. marks. Marijuana Heroin What is it? What are the causes? Amphetamines A significant deterioration of Fixation on a drug habit can Crack both the overall physical lead to complacency in other appearance and personal areas of life and appearance is Other grooming habits. often one of them: people who Depression previously took a lot of pride in Stress What are the symptoms? their exterior appearance and in Insomnia Drug users often overlook the clothes they wore can lose normal hygiene habits all interest. (showering, brushing teeth) and other habits, such as spraying However, it is also worth perfume or cologne, can be remembering that it is not picked up. uncommon for teenagers to SoberCollege.com SoberCollege.com6 Shakes and tremors Does your child shake? Tremors can be sometimes be Drugs Tremors can affect the hands, accompanied by head nodding, Cocaine arms, head or eyelids and often a shaky voice and a loss of Amphetamines occur when you move. balance. Alcohol Nicotine What is it? What are the causes? Involuntary shaking of the body, Stimulants such as cocaine and Other especially the hands. The amphetamines can lead to Hyperthyroidism shaking is usually fast, at about drug-induced tremors, which are Parkinson’s disease 4 to 12 movements per second. reactions of the muscles and Caffeine nervous system to specific What are the symptoms? substances. Tremors can affect the hands, arms, head or eyelids but rarely Alcohol and