Signs of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Do you suspect that someone you love is using drugs? Has that person become hostile and secretive, neglectful of grooming and hygiene, and careless about responsibilities toward work, school, and family? Have you noticed physical changes, such as weight loss or skin problems?

Many of the signs of drug abuse are the same as the symptoms of physical and mental diseases.  Depressed people classically withdraw from family and friends and neglect their appearances. People who abuse stimulants become overly talkative and sleep less, as do people in the manic phase of bipolar disease. Due to the similarity of these symptoms, only a qualified medical professional can diagnose chemical dependency.

If you suspect that someone you care about is abusing alcohol or another drug, check with your family doctor for a professional diagnosis. The following is a list of warning signs that can indicate drug abuse. No one person will have all of these symptoms, but anyone who is demonstrating several of these signs should be evaluated to determine the existence and extent of a problem with alcohol or another drug:

General Signs of Drug Abuse
Extreme moodiness
Touchiness, hostility, and inappropriate anger
Changes in sleep habits (sleeping either much less or much more than usual)
Withdrawal and secretiveness
Refusal participate in family activities
Obsession with privacy
Skin rashes and sores (from using needles)

Drug-Related Changes in Appearance
Neglect of hygiene and grooming
Selection of drug-related clothing
Significant weight losses or gains
Shallow, unhealthy look
Tendency to have many illnesses such as colds

Drug-Related Changes in Behaviors
Use of other people’s prescription drugs
Changes in sleep habits
Staying out all night
Placing many secretive phone calls
Dropping old friends for drug-using peers
Running away
Drop hobbies or activities that were once significant
Having several automobile or other destructive experiences

Drug-Related Problems with Authority
Being arrested for theft, attempted theft, or drug-related activity
Receiving complaints from teachers or school administrators
Receiving complaints from employer
Dropping out of school
Getting fired from job

Drug-Related Financial Problems
Missing money and credit cards
Making unidentifiable purchases on credit cards
Opening up new lines of credit
Missing household items, such as appliances or electronic equipment
Missing jewelry and other valuables
Receiving phone calls from collection agencies regarding bills that were supposed to have been paid

Symptoms of Opiate, Painkiller, and Tranquilizer Abuse
Slurred speech and “drunk” mannerisms
Changes in sleep patterns
Sitting in a stupor for hours
Using laxatives
Skin sores from needle use
Pinpoint pupils
Shallow skin
Weight loss and refusal to eat
Apathy, depression, lack of energy
Frequent use of eye drops
Possession of many prescription medicine bottles

Symptoms of the Abuse of Stimulants such as Ritalin and Amphetamines
Possession of butane lighters and other equipment for distilling drugs
Being overly talkative, energetic, “caffeinated”
Going without sleep for long periods of time
Experiencing tremors and shakiness
Losing significant amounts of weight
Demonstrating irritability or touchiness, and throwing “temper tantrums”
Exercising poor judgment
Expression delusions about abilities or performance
Using nasal sprays and having a reddened nose (cocaine)
Experiencing frequent cold symptoms (cocaine)