IS YOUR KID USING DRUGS? LOOK FOR CLUES

QUESTION: How can a parent tell if a son or daughter is taking
drugs?

ANSWER: You've taken the first step - awareness. A recent survey in
the greater Phoenix area by Drug Free America showed that more than 50
percent of teens knew someone who had used methamphetamine or ecstasy.
About 35 percent of teens had been offered these drugs. Yet only 2
percent of parents who were surveyed thought their child might be
using methamphetamine or ecstasy. So, becoming aware that drug use
could be happening in your family, not just other families, is a
crucial first step.

Your child might be using drugs if he or she is acting withdrawn,
depressed, unusually hostile or careless about his or her appearance.
The child may have lost interest in favorite activities or hobbies or
have trouble concentrating and may be hanging around a new group of
friends. Grades may slip, eating and sleeping patterns may change, and
the child may be losing weight, getting up at strange hours or be
hyperactive.

Methamphetamine and ecstasy can have serious health consequences.
Methamphetamine is highly addictive and can lead to stroke, high blood
pressure, aggressive behavior, paranoia, and the strange feeling of
insects crawling under the skin. Ecstasy can cause dehydration and
high body temperatures leading to heat stroke, kidney and heart damage.

The good news is that kids who learn about the risks of drugs at home
are half as likely to use drugs. So learn about methamphetamine and
ecstasy. Talk to and listen to your kids.

For more information, contact your physician, www.drugfreeAz.com
or the Maricopa County Attorney's Office for an excellent free handbook on
drugs.

If you think your child needs help, contact your doctor or call
1-888-412-8272 for referral to a treatment center near you.