Physical signs

• Weight loss, pale face, circles under the eyes or red eyes, frequent use of eye drops
• Unexplained skin rashes, persistent cough, frequent colds
• Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
• Deterioration of personal hygiene
• Obvious intoxication
• Cuts or burns on the hands
• Discolouration of the fingers and hands
• Puncture marks from needles, on the hands, wrists, inner elbow joint with bruising
• Runny nose or nose bleeds
• Excessive sleeping

Changes in behaviour

• Increased need and use of money
• New friends, lying or secretiveness, mysterious phone calls
• Quitting or getting fired from jobs, problems attending work or school, a drop in performance
• Quitting hobbies or extra curricular activities
• Mood swings e.g. angry outbursts, sadness/depression or elation
• Verbal and or physical abuse of family
• Spending more time alone
• Theft and missing valuables, alcohol or medication

Items to look out for

• Alcohol or drugs in their possession
• Mouthwash, breath sprays or eye drops
• Thinners or glue
• Bank bags, rolling papers i.e. rizla’s, broken glass bottle tops, pipes, glass tubes, burned copper wire or goldilocks pot scourer, razor blades, mirrors, burned spoons, broken light bulbs
• Pieces of metal used for scratching pipes
• Incense burning, syringes or hypodermic needles.

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