WARNING SIGNALS FOR PARENTS

Former Teen Heroin Addict Shares Inside Tips

Teens are clever about hiding their drug use. But a former teen
heroin addict from Valparaiso is sharing some inside information. The
following are clues that indicate a teen might be using heroin or
other drugs: * Excess mileage on vehicles from trips to buy drugs.

* Spoons disappear because they're used to prepare heroin. Or torn up
soda cans, tiny Ziploc or plastic bags and small pieces of foil appear.

* Long sleeves worn in warm weather to hide needle marks.

* Person is always scratching and has a dry, red nose and face.

* Physical problems such as nausea, bad acne, extreme fatigue and
sleeping for long periods of time.

* In females, loss of regular menstruation.

* A lot of cash is spent in unexplained ways.

* Teen avoids conversation, claims to be misunderstood and has a
negative attitude.

* Teen makes drastic changes in clothing and music.

* Teen always has somewhere to be, gets persistent phone calls, is
anxious to leave any family event and is constantly preoccupied.

* Teen has older friends.

* Misses school on Mondays.

* Valuable personal items come up "missing" or "borrowed."

Parents wanting to test their children for drugs can obtain a $5 drug
testing kit that detects marijuana, heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and
more. For more information or to buy a kit, call the Porter County
Substance Abuse Council at (219) 462-0946.