Identifying The Signs of Drug Use

A Brief Introduction To Drug Use

Identifying drug use can seem like a complicated thing to do but it is surprisingly simple. However, different drugs cause different effects, which in turn causes different signs. Some drugs are psychologically addictive and some others are physically addictive. It must be noted, however, that physically addictive drugs almost always have a psychologically addictive quality to them.

Many groups are especially at risk of becoming addicted to drugs or drug dependent. For instance, teenagers and young adults may be more at risk of becoming psychologically addicted to marijuana. Blue collar workers are more likely to become addicted to meth, although this does not mean at all that teenagers are going to get addicted to marijuana and blue collar workers are going to be addicted to meth. Rather it means that these groups are more exposed to certain drugs depending on their social groups, including location, work and school.

It is important to note that even if an individual looks as though they are using drugs there could be several other explanations for strange behavior, including health problems. This needs to be kept in mind, especially when dealing with vulnerable groups like teenagers. A mental health professional is the best place to turn when you feel like someone in your family, particularly a teenager, might have a drug problem

The most important and easily identifiable sign of drug use is actually surprisingly simple and constitutes change. Any significant change could indicate a problem with the individual, including radical changes in style of dressing, personality, social circles and interests. If you think your teenager might be a drug user, remember that teenagers are always changing and these changes need to be extreme before they are concerning.

Some of the most obvious physical signs of drug abuse are extreme weight loss or weight gain, bloodshot eyes with enlarged pupils. They might also be reduced in size. The user could experience huge changes in eating habits. The user might also start to have a strange sleep schedule, sleeping excessively or not sleeping at all. This might go along with a feeling of fatigue or lethargy.

The user might also start walking slowly, staggering when he or she walks and might experience a loss in coordination altogether. There could be excessive sweating, shaking hands and a drop in temperature. The user might always feel cold. The user might have paler skin than usual, or flushing and puffy faces. The users extremities may also be enlarged in some cases. The user might show signs of hyperactivity, increased talkativeness, feelings of nausea and vomiting, and shaking and tremors. In some cases the user might experience seizures. One of the easiest indicators that someone might be taking drugs is the smell of them on their clothes, their body and their breath. The user might also experience less visible signs of drug use like a quickened heartbeat and feelings of anxiety and panic.

Some of the most easily identifiable emotional signs of drug use are a change in the user's personality, hobbies and interests without a cause. The user might also completely change his or her social circles and start to spend time socializing with different groups than he or she would normally. Often the user will not want to talk about his or her new social circles and abruptly distance themselves from their old social circle without any explanation.

The user might avoid questions from old friends and family about what happened. The user might also start frequenting different places than he or she normally would to socialize. The user could lose interest in prior hobbies, like sports and clubs they could have belonged to. Along with this, there might be a noticeable decrease in the user's motivation at home, at work and at school. The user could start showing apathy towards things and people that priorly interested them. The user might start to show no interest in activities that he or she used to enjoy at home and retreat to their own shell, starting to spend more time together. This could be turned into obsessive privacy in which the user feels like people are infringing upon his or her personal space by asking personal questions and, in some cases, the user might become completely unreachable. The user might experience issues with self-esteem and self-worth.

If the individual is using drugs, he or she might experience difficulty concentrating, paying attention and remember certain events. Drug users are likely to have a more difficult time concentrating on tasks which can mean a decrease in grades and performance at work. The user might start getting into frequent physical and verbal altercations and could for the first time start getting in trouble with the law. The user may be found with drugs and charged accordingly. The user might also suddenly experience an unexplained need for money and could start to steal money from loved ones or borrow money without giving it back. He or she could get in financially and be unable to meet expenses that have not been a problem before.

All drugs are different. Depending on the drug, users may exhibit different signs. Marijuana, for instance, could make the user appear spaced out with glassy or red eyes and incessant, loud and strange laughter over small things that would normally not be enjoyed by the user as much. Cocaine use can lead to talkativeness, an increase in energy and hyperactivity on the part of the user. Other stimulants may also cause the same effects but some stimulants will have certain effects added to them. For instance, meth will make the user feel empowered and egotistical whereas if the user is using ecstasy he or she might experience intense feelings of empathy and an increased perception of love and affection for those around them. If you think somebody you love might be using drugs contact a mental health professional with experience in drug dependency and addiction that will be able to help you through this time and give you and your loved ones guidance.