How can I tell if my child is using drugs?

It is difficult to tell with any certainty that a child is using drugs. The effects of a drug vary greatly from person to person. Changes in a child's behaviour or moods may indicate drug use; however, any such changes may indicate an issue in the young person's life that is not drug related.

Signs that appear to be uncharacteristic of your child may require your attention regardless of whether drugs are involved. These include:

• Lethargy
• Explosive outbursts and mood swings
• Minimal interaction with family and withdrawing socially
• Trouble with the police
• Changes in eating patterns
• Frequent absences from school/work
• Sudden changes of friends
• Unexplained need for money
• Declining school/work performance
• Disappearing money and valuables
• Impaired memory and poor concentration
• Withdrawing socially and a decrease in extra - curricular activities

Source: Common questions parents ask about young people (n.d) Retrieved November 11, 2005 , from http://druginfo.adf.org.au/article.asp?ContentID=common_questions_parents_ask_a#what