A. Social and Emotional
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Lots of money from unexplained sources.
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Constant need for money.
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Paranoia or hallucinations.
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Increased anxiety.
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Wide mood swings, unusual mood changes, depression.
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Decrease in energy for normal things, excessive sleeping.
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Diminished alertness.
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Inability to think clearly.
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Slurred or slow speech.
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Drop in grades (and does not seem to care).
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Boyfriend or girlfriend concerned about amount of drugs used.
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Change in friends to those who are known drug users.
B. Physical
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Dilated pupils (large - from using stimulants) or pinpoint pupils (small - from using downers).
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Accidents of any kind.
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Needle marks on arms or legs.
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Discoloration of skin, brownish-yellow on forefinger and thumb. Scabs, open sores.
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Irritated nose, runny nose.
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Blood shot eyes.
C. Health
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Illness in the morning, throwing up, lethargy (no energy), headaches.
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Hyperactivity (bouncing off walls).
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Cessation of menstruation.
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Rapid weight loss, or weight gain.
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Frequent small burns.
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Frequent infections.
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Excessive coughing.
Messages for Teenagers
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Know the law. Methamphetamines, marijuana, hallucinogens, crack, cocaine, and many other substances are illegal. Depending on where you are caught, you could face high fines and jail time. Alcohol is illegal to buy or possess if you are under 21, under 18 in some provinces or states.
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Be aware of the risks. Drinking or using drugs increases the risk of injury. Car crashes, falls, burns, drowning, and suicide are all linked to drug use.
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Keep your edge. Drug use can ruin your looks, make you depressed, and contribute to slipping grades.
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Play it safe. One incident of drug use could make you do something that you will regret for a lifetime.
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Do the smart thing. Using drugs puts your health, education, family ties, and social life at risk.
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Get with the program. Doing drugs isn't "in" anymore.
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Think twice about what you're advertising when you buy and wear T-shirts, hats, pins, or jewelry with a pot leaf, joint, blunt, beer can, or other drug paraphernalia on them. Do you want to promote something that can cause cancer? make you forget things? or make it difficult to drive a car?
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Face your problems. Using drugs won't help you escape your problems, it will only create more.
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Be a real friend. If you know someone with a drug problem, be part of the solution. Urge your friend to get help.
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Remember, you DON'T NEED drugs or alcohol. If you think "everybody's doing it," you're wrong! Over 86% of 12-17 year-olds have never tried marijuana; over 98% have never used cocaine; only about half a percent of them have ever used crack. Doing drugs won't make you happy or popular or help you to learn the skills you need as you grow up. In fact, doing drugs can cause you to fail at all of these things.
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