Sistersteel
04-13-2009, 01:47 AM
Sometimes this may be obvious - for example a family member or work colleague who regularly shows clear signs of being under the influence of any drug. Yet this is often the exception rather than the rule. A person who uses illicit drugs or abuses legal drugs may not necessarily demonstrate obvious signs of intoxication. (Remember the Functional Addict Discussion?)
Generally speaking, a person who abuses drugs doesn't wish to advertise that fact and will try to keep his or her drug use secret. So, for example, they may try to maintain the appearance of a normal life in terms of work, school, family, friends etc. But inevitably there are likely to be some changes in behavior and attitudes that can indicate current drug abuse.
Some drugs show more obvious physical symptoms than others. For example, it's pretty easy to tell if a person is drunk, or stoned on cannabis or inhalants as their speech, reactions and behavior are usually changed dramatically. It is not so obvious to tell if someone has taken cocaine or abused tranquillizers, as the physical symptoms may only be slight.
It can be difficult to discern whether or not a person uses drugs if their drug use is only very sporadic. There may be no obvious pointers, unless the person actually appears to be intoxicated when you see them one time. This might mean an unsteady walk, sleepiness, hyper-activity, excessive talking, aggression . . . and so on, depending on which drug has been used.
It can be a little easier to tell if a person is abusing drugs regularly - i.e. at daily or weekly intervals - as this sort of intake is likely to be problematic drug use - i.e. based on a chemical dependency - or verging on this. Even when a person is not intoxicated, problematic drug use nevertheless usually exhibits a few symptoms:
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif Preoccupation - a drug user will often be preoccupied about getting the next 'hit'. He or she may seem irritable or withdrawn or distracted.
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif Changes in behaviour - which may be demonstrated as a loss of interest in essential activities such as family matters, work or school. There may be an abrupt change in work or school attendance, quality of work, grades etc.
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif Financial problems - drugs cost money and - for most people - problematic drug use inevitably leads to financial difficulties. An individual may repeatedly borrow money from family or friends and neglect to repay it. He or she may steal from family members, an employer or friends.
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif Physical deterioration - there may be a decline in an individuals' normal standards of personal hygiene, grooming and physical condition.
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif Secretiveness - this might be seen as secretive behavior regarding his or her actions and possessions. This could involve lying or minimizing when challenged about drug use. Attempts may be made to avoid attention and suspicion, such as frequent trips to a bedroom, bathroom, garden shed, garage or outdoors etc.
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif New associations - a problematic drug user is likely to change his or her circle of friends and develop new friendships with - possibly known - drug or alcohol abusers.
These are just a few common symptoms which may indicate that a person is using drugs. They are not definitive, as every individual and situation of drug use is different.
In general, new regular drug users undergo a change in their attitudes and behaviour. This is likely to be most easily noticed by other family members.
Generally speaking, a person who abuses drugs doesn't wish to advertise that fact and will try to keep his or her drug use secret. So, for example, they may try to maintain the appearance of a normal life in terms of work, school, family, friends etc. But inevitably there are likely to be some changes in behavior and attitudes that can indicate current drug abuse.
Some drugs show more obvious physical symptoms than others. For example, it's pretty easy to tell if a person is drunk, or stoned on cannabis or inhalants as their speech, reactions and behavior are usually changed dramatically. It is not so obvious to tell if someone has taken cocaine or abused tranquillizers, as the physical symptoms may only be slight.
It can be difficult to discern whether or not a person uses drugs if their drug use is only very sporadic. There may be no obvious pointers, unless the person actually appears to be intoxicated when you see them one time. This might mean an unsteady walk, sleepiness, hyper-activity, excessive talking, aggression . . . and so on, depending on which drug has been used.
It can be a little easier to tell if a person is abusing drugs regularly - i.e. at daily or weekly intervals - as this sort of intake is likely to be problematic drug use - i.e. based on a chemical dependency - or verging on this. Even when a person is not intoxicated, problematic drug use nevertheless usually exhibits a few symptoms:
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif Preoccupation - a drug user will often be preoccupied about getting the next 'hit'. He or she may seem irritable or withdrawn or distracted.
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif Changes in behaviour - which may be demonstrated as a loss of interest in essential activities such as family matters, work or school. There may be an abrupt change in work or school attendance, quality of work, grades etc.
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif Financial problems - drugs cost money and - for most people - problematic drug use inevitably leads to financial difficulties. An individual may repeatedly borrow money from family or friends and neglect to repay it. He or she may steal from family members, an employer or friends.
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif Physical deterioration - there may be a decline in an individuals' normal standards of personal hygiene, grooming and physical condition.
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif Secretiveness - this might be seen as secretive behavior regarding his or her actions and possessions. This could involve lying or minimizing when challenged about drug use. Attempts may be made to avoid attention and suspicion, such as frequent trips to a bedroom, bathroom, garden shed, garage or outdoors etc.
http://www.recovery.org.uk/images/rd_star.gif New associations - a problematic drug user is likely to change his or her circle of friends and develop new friendships with - possibly known - drug or alcohol abusers.
These are just a few common symptoms which may indicate that a person is using drugs. They are not definitive, as every individual and situation of drug use is different.
In general, new regular drug users undergo a change in their attitudes and behaviour. This is likely to be most easily noticed by other family members.