Drug Use

Drug addiction involves compulsive seeking to use an addictive substance, regardless of the potentially negative social, psychological, and physical consequences. An estimated 19.5 million Americans use illicit drugs and, according to National Drug control Policy director John Walters, 3.6 million of these are teenagers. While not everyone who uses drugs becomes addicted, many people do. As many as 19,000 people die of drug-related causes each year.

What is a drug?
A drug is any chemical that produces a therapeutic or non-therapeutic effect in the body. Many prescription drugs that produce therapeutic effects may also cause non-therapeutic effects if taken in excess and/or without a specific prescription.

Signs of Drug Use:

• Increase or decrease in appetite.
• Unexplained weight loss or gain.
• Smell of substance on breath, body or clothes.
• Extreme hyperactivity; excessive talkativeness.
• Needle marks or bruises on lower arm, legs or bottom of feet.
• Change in overall attitude / personality with no other identifiable cause.
• Changes in friends: new hang-outs, avoidance of old crowd, new friends are drug users.
• Change in activities; loss of interest in things that were important before.
• Drop in school or work performance; skips or is late to school or work.
• Difficulty in paying attention; forgetfulness.
  Lack of motivation, energy, self-esteem, discipline. Bored, "I don't care" attitude.
• Defensiveness, temper tantrums, resentful behavior (everything's a hassle).
• Unexplained moodiness, irritability, or nervousness.
• Violent temper or bizarre behavior.
• Unexplained silliness or giddiness.
• Paranoia -- suspiciousness.
• Excessive need for privacy; keeps door locked or closed, won't let people in.
• Secretive or suspicious behavior.
• Car accidents, fender benders, household accidents.
• Chronic dishonesty; trouble with police.
• Unexplained need for money; can't explain where money goes; stealing.
• Unusual effort to cover arms, legs.
• Change in personal grooming habits.
• Possession of drug paraphernalia.

Additional information is available at:

• Narcotics Anonymous:  408-998-4200
• Thunder Road- Teen Drug Treatment: 408-243-6984 
• National Alcohol/Drug Helpline: 800-662-4357
• Center for Substance Abuse Treatment: 800-662-4357