27 Signs That Someone Is On Drugs

This category can be a little bit trickier to spot, because it is usually less obvious from the outside. In order to determine whether your loved one is experiencing these psychological warning signs, you may have to ask them openly which, as you can imagine, can be a challenge. There is not one single cause responsible for causing drug addiction. Drug abuse and addiction is generally thought to be a mixture of genetic, environmental, biological, and psychological factors working in tandem to create an atmosphere of abuse. It’s estimated that worldwide, 5% of the adult population, 230 million people, or one in every twenty adults used an illegal drug in 2010.

Make sure you’re ready.Before talking to your loved one about their addiction, make sure you’ve taken the time to work through your own feelings on the topic. If you are going to work with othersto stage a group intervention, such as family, friends, clergy, or mental health professionals, work with them beforehand to plan what each person will say. Decide what consequences, if any, you will impose if they do not get help. Research treatment options and contact treatment centers to make sure your loved one can begin treatment as soon as they agree to get help so that you have concrete solutions to present. Social, emotional and mental isolation are common signs that someone needs help for a drug or alcohol addiction. People who face a substance use disorder may isolate themselves from their partners, friends or family members to keep their addiction a secret. They’ll try to avoid questions about unexplained physical changes, like track marks or weight loss, or odd behaviors.

Drug addiction and the brain

Short-term use is generally safe, but abuse can cause numerous complications. The high prevalence of alcohol abuse ensures that both the alcoholic and concerned individuals are not alone in dealing with this illness. In addition to rehab, there is exceptional support available for those affected by alcoholism, including individual counseling and Al-Anon meetings. Its impact is too dramatic, and the person using drugs can spiral out of control fast. Changes in behavior, neglecting responsibilities, exhausting financial resources, and engaging in criminal conduct are some of the most obvious signals of a drug problem. Family members, loved ones, and coworkers are usually in the best position to recognize a drug problem as they are familiar with the person’s behavior and habits.

• Not everyone who uses drugs or alcohol has a substance abuse problem.
• Note that the brain does not fully develop until the mid-20s, meaning that consistent substance use can cause significant damages to the brain cells in the long term.
• If you or a loved one are struggling with a substance abuse issue, please contact our admissions team today for a free and confidential assessment.
• If any physical or behavioral sign is evident, endeavor to consult a mental health professional for help.
• Problems in your relationships, such as fights with your partner or family members, an unhappy boss, or the loss of friends.

This can manifest as urges to take a prescription drug at a higher dose than prescribed or continuing after the health problem it treats has ended. Addiction makes it hard to follow even self-prescribed rules. If you have set yourself a self-imposed use limit but cannot stop yourself, this is a concerning sign. When substance use takes hold of someone’s life, new priorities and feelings will control how they behave. Change in habits at home; loss of interest in family and family activities.

How to Tell if Someone is on Drugs

Learning to recognize the physical or behavioral signs of drug use can help prevent the problem from progressing further. Once you’ve been addicted to a drug, you’re at high risk of falling back into a pattern of addiction. If you do start using the drug, it’s likely you’ll lose control over its use again — even if you’ve had treatment and you haven’t used the drug for some time. Children of parents who misuse drugs are at greater risk of drug addiction. Sometimes called the “opioid epidemic,” addiction to opioid prescription pain medicines has reached an alarming rate across the United States. Some people who’ve been using opioids over a long period of time may need physician-prescribed temporary or long-term drug substitution during treatment.

With the right treatment and support, you can counteract the disruptive effects of drug use and regain control of your life. The first obstacle is to recognize and admit you have a problem, or listen to loved ones who are often better able to see the negative effects drug use is having on your life. Cocaine is highly addictive and can cause a number of long-term effects to the body over time. Cocaine is known to cause changes in genetics in brain cells and nerve cells along with massive strain to the heart, which can lead to a stroke or cardiac arrest.

Drug addiction (substance use disorder)

Paranoid thoughts can happen in people who struggle with substance use disorders. Individuals who misuse drugs may mistrust the people around them, become highly suspicious of family and friends or ascribe unrealistic motives to other people’s actions.

Many people start taking these drugs to cope with a specific medical problem—taking painkillers following injury or surgery, for example. However, over time, increased doses are needed to achieve the same level of pain relief and some users can become physically dependent, experiencing withdrawal symptoms if they try to quit.