Anthony was the most easygoing of kids, and always had been. But over the course of one summer he changed completely. His mother had all she could do to keep his father from punching him. Over a period of time, Anthony did seem to quiet down. Among these behavioural changes are an increased tendency to blame others and deterioration in ethical and moral values.
Drugs cost money, and the simplest way to raise the money needed to buy drugs is to steal.
Stolen goods often show up at home on their way to being resold. When parents discover goods which cannot be reasonably accounted for, they should make it an issue. Doing so may require calling the police, but it is better to nip a petty theft problem in the bud rather than wait till it turns into a major crisis relating to heavy drug use. The sad fact is that parents often turn a blind eye to this sort of thing, in the name of family honour. If a son or daughter develops questionable friendships, they should be questioned.