Lack of interest in personal appearance

Physical changes (e.g., persistent runny nose, red eyes, coughing, wheezing, bruises, needle marks)

Uncharacteristic withdrawal from family, friends or interests

Isolation, depression, fatigue

Hostility and lack of cooperativeness

Increase in borrowing money

Unaccounted-for cash, especially in small denominations

Change in friends

Loss of interest in hobbies and/or sports that used to be important

Change in eating/sleeping habits

Evidence of drugs or drug paraphernalia (e.g., rolling papers, eye drops, butane lighters, pipes)

Use of incense or room deodorant

Evidence of inhaling products (such as hairspray, nail polish and whiteout) and chemicals used to get high (e.g., rags soaked in chemicals or gasoline smell of chemicals on the person, more frequent need to buy household products)

Smell of alcohol on the breath or sudden, frequent use of breath mints

Watered-down alcohol in liquor bottles in the liquor cabinet

Sudden use of strong perfume or cologne

Heightened secrecy about actions or possessions

Most warning signs can be divided into several general areas:

• Physical and Emotional—fatigue, slurred speech, red or glazed eyes, a persistent cough or runny nose not from a cold, increased irritability, inability to cope with problems and daily activities, personality change, sudden mood swings, sustained depressive attitudes, thoughts of suicide.
• School, Social and Family—drop in academic performance, truancy, negative attitude toward authority, new friends who are disinterested in standard family and social values, aggressive or hostile behavior, loss of interest in hobbies, changes to less conventional dress style.