Warning Signs of Drug Abuse & Addiction

Signs and Symptoms of Drug Abuse

Different drugs have varying effects depending on numerous factors. The frequency of use, the potency of the substance, and whether or not it is combined with other drugs can produce dangerous side effects that may put a person at risk. Drug abuse affects a person’s mood, energy, thinking, and perception of things around them. This combined with impaired judgment, decreased motor functioning, and poor decision-making can put a person in a dangerous situation. Drug use can also lower inhibitions making a person more likely to engage in behaviors or activities they would not otherwise.

Drug abuse puts a person at risk of being exposed to a host of health problems and infectious diseases. Even occasional drug abuse can put a person at risk for overdose. Recognizing signs of drug abuse early on can help you intervene before drug addiction develops. Discuss your concerns and observations with your loved ones to try and open the conversation about potential drug abuse.

Common signs and symptoms of drug abuse:

• Neglected responsibilities at school, work, or home (e.g. flunking classes, skipping work, neglecting your children) because of drug use.
• Using drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high, such as driving while on drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex.
• Drug use is causing legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, or stealing to support a drug habit.
• Drug use is causing problems in relationships, such as fights with a partner or family members, an unhappy boss, or the loss of old friends.

Signs of Prescription Drug Abuse

Prescription drug abuse is the use of a prescription drug in a way not intended by the prescribing doctor. Prescription drug abuse or problematic use includes everything from taking a friend’s prescription painkiller for your backache to snorting or injecting ground-up pills to get high. Drug abuse may become compulsive and ongoing, despite the negative consequences.

Prescription drug abuse is an increasing problem that can affect all age groups. The prescription drugs most often abused include opioid painkillers, anxiety meds, sedatives, and stimulants [3]. Early detection of prescription drug abuse and early intervention may prevent the problem from turning into an addiction.

Signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse depend on the specific drug. Because of their mind-altering properties, the most commonly abused prescription drugs are:

Signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse are as follows:

Opioids

Anxiety meds and sedatives

Stimulants

Other signs include:

Physical Signs of Drug Abuse

Signs will vary based on the drugs and the method used (i.e., smoking, injection, snorting.).

Behavioral Signs of Drug Abuse

Drug abuse tends to significantly change a person’s habits and behavior. Some drugs can alter the brain’s ability to focus and think clearly.

Changes in behavior, such as the following, are sometimes linked with problematic substance use:

Learning to recognize the behavioral or physical signs of drug abuse can help prevent the problem from progressing further.

Signs of Abuse Related to Specific Drugs

When you suspect that you or a loved one is struggling with a drug abuse problem, it’s important to know some of the signs and symptoms of abuse to that drug. You can find a brief overview of the major drugs of abuse below. 

Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most widely abused legal substances in the United States.

Signs of alcohol abuse include:

Individuals who abuse alcohol will frequently have the scent of it on their clothes or breath. It is important to learn about the short and long-term effects of alcohol use, the major signs of alcohol abuse, and the best treatment options to help someone with an alcohol use disorder,

Methamphetamines

Methamphetamine, commonly shortened to “meth,” acts as a powerful stimulant. Students or those needing to stay awake long hours for work may use them to get a rush of energy.

Signs of meth abuse may include the following:

Lasting health effects of meth may include:

Heroin

Heroin is one of the most dangerous and addictive drugs a person can abuse. It is a powerful narcotic that many find addictive upon the first use. Most often, heroin is administered through injection into a vein. If you see needle marks on someone’s arms, it is a sign of possible heroin abuse. The needles can be inserted anywhere that a vein is located, but the arms are the most common location.

Cocaine

Cocaine is a central nervous system stimulant that increases energy levels and keeps people awake while raising heart rate and blood pressure. There are two main types of cocaine: a powder that is snorted, injected or smoked, and a rock form called crack cocaine that is generally smoked, although sometimes it is placed into body orifices. 

Signs of Cocaine Abuse:

Marijuana/Cannabis

Marijuana and other cannabis-based products, such as edibles, may induce euphoria. They can cause heightened visual and auditory perceptions, but the user may also seem uncoordinated and forgetful. Since cannabis increases appetite, the person may eat more than usual. Reactions may be slower, and the user may also become paranoid and suspicious. Those who have smoked marijuana often appear with bloodshot eyes, droopy eyelids, and an overall relaxed or mellow demeanor.

Stimulants

A person on a stimulant may exhibit frequent behavior changes, aggression, or rapid or rambling speech. They may display dilated pupils, increased energy, and a fast breathing rate. In some cases, users may become paranoid or hostile. If users snort the drug, nasal congestion is a common sign of use. Snorting drugs like cocaine can damage the mucous membrane inside the nose.

Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines

These CNS depressants are often prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Benzodiazepines include common medications, such as Valium and Xanax. Barbiturates are not used as much as they used to be; however, they are still sometimes employed to treat seizure disorders and during surgery. 

Barbiturates carry a higher risk of overdose than benzodiazepines. A person who abuses these drugs may appear uninhibited, dizzy, or depressed. They may experience blurry vision, balance issues, and overall confusion. They may also present with involuntary eye movements, known as nystagmus.

Inhalants 

Inhalants (glues, aerosols, vapors): Watery eyes; impaired vision, memory, and thought; secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches and nausea; the appearance of intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle control; changes in appetite; anxiety; irritability; lots of cans/aerosols in the trash.

Hallucinogens

Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP): Dilated pupils; bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia, aggression, hallucinations; mood swings; detachment from people; absorption with self or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.

Opioids

Opioids include both prescription painkillers, like Vicodin and OxyContin, and the illicit drug heroin. Signs of opioid abuse include overall sedation, memory issues, inability to concentrate, slowed reaction times, lethargy, and mood swings. Since opioids can slow the digestive system, users often experience constipation and other intestinal issues. When without the drug, users may become anxious and display

Club drugs

Ecstasy, ketamine, and GHB are common types of club drugs. Signs and symptoms of use include increased body temperature, poor coordination, dizziness, excessive sweating, clenched teeth, and slurred speech.

Find Treatment

There is a strong connection between mental health and drug abuse. Individuals who struggle with mood disorders like depression and anxiety are more susceptible to showing signs of drug abuse, often to self-medicate symptoms of their underlying mental health condition. These co-occurring disorders can make each other worse without proper treatment.

To determine the most effective ways to the signs of drug abuse, it’s crucial to first get an accurate assessment of all the symptoms. When the symptoms have been evaluated by a mental health professional, it may be determined that another form of mental condition is present and needs a particular type of treatment. Very often, some combination of psychotherapy, medication, and/or lifestyle changes are effective for coping with functional.

Medically-Assisted Detox

Detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated process of withdrawal, but it doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior that contribute to drug abuse. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete detox.

Cravings are very common during detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient treatment helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can provide necessary medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and the effects of withdrawals.

Psychotherapy for Depression and Anxiety

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of depression including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves making changes in both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 
• Person-Centered Therapy – is a strategy that allows and encourages clients to understand and resolve their concerns in a safe, supportive environment.
• Solution Focused Therapy – is an approach interested in solutions that can be quickly implemented with a simple first step leading to further positive consequences.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Substance abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. In many cases, traumatic experiences can result in a mental health disorder and substance abuse. Dual diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. In this strategy, both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder are treated simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend largely on the treatment for both disorders done by the same team or provider.

Medication-Assisted Treatments