• becoming disrespectful
• verbally/physically abusive
• frequently angry
• paranoia
• confusion
• extreme mood swings
• real trouble coping with normal life problems
• start stealing and/or losing possessions
• skipping school
• sneaking out of the home
• depressed
• loss of interest in friends
• changing social circles / friend groups
• loss of appetite
• weight loss/gain
• unusually unmotivated or hyper

DXM

• Most common starting age: elementary-age students
• Found in over 100 types of cough medicines
• Very easy for students to obtain
• High doses can be extremely dangerous
• Effects: confusion, dizziness, slurred speech, lack of physical coordination
• If an individual consumes too much DXM, hallucinations, loss of motor skills, and out-of-body dissociative experiences can occur

• Most common starting age: 8 to 9 years old
• One of the most common ways for students to begin using drugs
• Signs of Inhalant Use: red or runny nose, sores or rash around the mouth and nose area, chronic cough, frequent headaches, memory loss, lack of concentration, paint stains on skin, white-out on nails, changes in personal hygiene habits, mood swings, sudden weight loss, withdrawal from friends

• Most common starting age: 12 years old
• The fastest growing category of drug use
• 45% of students abusing Prescription Medications get them from their own home
• Vicodin and Hydrocodone are the most commonly prescribed prescriptions in America - they are actually easier for students to obtain than marijuana
• This is a difficult addiction to treat because it is a challenge to separate the student from the source when the source is their home medicine cabinet.
• Greatest risk with prescription drugs is an overdose that will result in death

• Most common starting age: Middle School
• More adults are stopping smoking and more teenagers are taking it up
• The concern with tobacco is not so much an overdose as it is the addictive nature and the long-term effects on the body

• The most commonly abused illegal drug
• Most common starting age: 14 years old
• 62% of teens admitted to treatment centers are there for marijuana use
• Commonly referred to as a ‘gateway drug’ because students who use it are around individuals who usually use other drugs as well and they are more susceptible to try other drugs
• Signs of Marijuana Use: distinct smell, loss of interest in life, difficulty setting goals, lack of involvement

• Most common starting age: high school
• Most commonly seen among college students

• Most common starting age: high school
• Most students try alcohol for the first time at their own home
• The trend lately among students is less alcohol use and more prescription drug abuse
• Advertisements for alcohol always show people have fun and never show any consequences

• Kids often protect their parents and may not talk about drug use at home
• Students need to know they can trust you
• Don’t make promises you can’t keep – as in, don’t say you won’t tell anyone
• Focus on the feelings and safety of the student
• Younger children may not understand that drug use is wrong if they have grown up seeing it as a normal part of life
• Talk about different life choices and how what they see at home is not always the only way of life