Sign: Money or Valuables Missing
"I thought I was losing my mind. I couldn't find a pair of earrings, so I assumed I'd put them down someplace and maybe would find them later when cleaning. I thought I had $60.00 in my wallet, and was embarrassed in the store line when I only had a twenty AND my credit card was missing. My son swears he didn't take it, my husband surely didn't take it, and when I called the credit card company there had been a number of charges I didn't make."
By the time the money starts disappearing, the problem has probably been going on for a while. As teens get more involved in alcohol and drugs, they need more financial resources to get their illegal substances.
This does not mean that if this sign is missing there isn't a problem. Unfortunately, there are many household items that can be used as mood-changing drugs. Sniffing glue, paint thinners, and other extremely dangerous practices have increased, especially among younger teens who have less independence and cannot obtain harder-to-find drugs.
"Adolescents are particularly at risk of adverse reactions from hallucinogen use as they enter puberty, a time of rapid physical and emotional changes. Hallucinogens are particularly dangerous because the effects are so unpredictable. They can cause violent behavior in some and suicidal tendencies in others. As memory, perception, and judgment are clouded under the influence, users are at risk of severe injuries, overdose, and death from drowning, burns, falls, and car accidents. Sometimes, hallucinogen use can uncover severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia or severe depression." Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
