All Addicts are different, but as a teenager, many of them share common traits. These are an overview of the things I see as being indicators of drug use in teenagers, beyond what you read in a textbook. I gathered these ideas through personal experience. Some of these clues can arrest the problem before it spins out of control. I believe these are some signs to look for, especially if opiate use is suspected.

• Beware of older friends and associates
  
• Pay attention to lack of emotion and a consistently negative attitude
  
• Pay attention to how cash is spent
  
• Keep track of mileage on vehicle
  
• Drastic change in style, such as clothing and music
  
• Missing spoons, torn up soda cans, little Ziploc bags, small pieces of foil
  
• Avoidance of conversation, claiming to be misunderstood
  
• Long sleeves or inappropriate clothing for the weather
  
• Sleeping for extended periods of time
  
• Always having somewhere to be, persistent telephone calls, anxious to leave any family event, constantly being preoccupied
  
• Upset stomach, nausea
  
• Bad acne outbreaks, UTI's due to toxins
  
• Consistently missing school on Monday, never Friday
  
• Extreme fatigue, sleeping for long periods of time
  
• Females not menstruating regularly
  
• Valuable personal items come up "missing" or "borrowed"
  
• Always scratching; dry red nose and face