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Progressive Stages in Teen Drug Use:
Stage I
- Uses in social setting or alone
- Occasional to infrequent use
- Shows curiosity about chemical effects
- Excitement about not getting caught,
adult identification
Stage
II
- Party weekend use
- Uses to socialize, not to have fun
- Controlled use, avoids getting wasted
or drunk
Stage
III
- Changes peer group, new friends
- Experiences memory loss from use
- Parents become suspicious of abuse
- Increasing tolerance -- Quantity and frequency up!
- Mood changes from abuse -- Anger issues
- Consequences from abuse -- School, home and legal issues
- Change in interests -- Partying more important than school, health,
family, etc.
- Increased problems in school -- Truancy, poor school attendance,
flunking classes
- Monday "blues"
Stage
IV
- School suspensions, expulsion or drops out
- Demonstrates lying patterns; value system changes
- Apathy -- "I don't care" attitude
- Loss of certain friends
- Loss of interest in school, family and formerly enjoyed activities
- Poor nutrition, preoccupation with chemicals
- Family conflicts; excessive arguing
- Sleeping problems
- Blackouts -- Increased memory loss
- Increased use -- Weekdays and weekends
- Money problems
- Defensiveness concerning use
- Rationalizes behavior to hide drug use
- Denies feelings
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