In this Article

• What drugs are abused by teenagers?
• What are some statistics on teenage drug use?
• What are the dangerous effects of drug use in teens?
• How can parents prevent drug use?
• What are the symptoms and warning signs of drug abuse?
• What is drug abuse?
• What are the causes and risk factors of teen drug use?
• What are the symptoms of drug abuse in teens?
• What is the treatment of drug intoxication?
• What are treatments for drug addiction?
• Where can a person get help for teen drug abuse?
• Teen Drug Abuse At A Glance
• Teen Drug Abuse Glossary
• Teen Drug Abuse Index

What are the symptoms and warning signs of drug abuse?

Signs that indicate a person is intoxicated or "high" on a drug depends on the substance with which he or she is intoxicated and include:

• Tobacco products: frequent smell of tobacco, irritability, discolored fingertips, lips or teeth, cigarette butts at curbside;



• Cannabinoids: reddened whites of eyes, sleepiness, excessive hunger, lack of motivation, excessive happiness, paranoia;



• Cold medications: sleepiness, rapid or slowed heart rate;



• Inhalants: runny nose, smell of gasoline or other solvent, confusion or irritability;



• Depressants: sleepiness, lowered inhibitions, poor coordination, slowed heart rate or blood pressure, dizziness, coma, death in overdose;



• Stimulants: rapid heart rate or blood pressure, irritability, excessive happiness, less need for sleep, paranoia, seizures;



• Narcotics: less experiencing of pain, excessive happiness, sleepiness, slowed or stopped breathing, coma, death in overdose;



• Hallucinogens: trouble sleeping, blurred perceptions, paranoia;



• Dissociative anesthetics: higher blood pressure and heart rate, memory loss, nausea and vomiting, irritability, aggressiveness;



• Club drugs (for example, Ecstasy): feverish teen that does not sweat, finding multiple lollipops or other hard candies, the teen seeming to love everyone and/or have an excessively happy mood (euphoria);



• Others (for example, anabolic steroids): increased irritability or aggressiveness, rapid increase in muscle definition, thinning or loss of head hair, marked increase in acne over a short period of time, finding needles.

The physical symptoms of withdrawal from these drugs are often nearly the opposite of the effects of intoxication.

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