The following early warning signs, should not be overlooked:

• 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