Here are some warning signs of substance abuse and addiction:
Alcoholism
- Abdominal pain
- Confusion
- Drinking alone
- Episodes of violence with drinking
- Hostility when confronted about drinking
- Lack of control over drinking—being unable to stop or reduce alcohol intake
- Making excuses to drink
- Nausea and vomiting
- Need for daily or regular alcohol use to function
- Neglecting to eat
- Not caring for physical appearance
- Secretive behavior
- Shaking in the morning
Drug Abuse
- Cycles of being unusually talkative, “up” and cheerful, with seemingly boundless energy (often seen in cocaine and methamphetamines)
- Increased irritability, agitation and anger
- Unusual calmness, unresponsiveness, or looking “spaced out”
- Apathy and depression
- Paranoia and delusions
- Temporary psychosis or hallucinations
- Lowered threshold for violence
- Abnormally slow movements, speech or reaction time, confusion and disorientation (often seen in opiates, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates)
- Sudden weight loss or weight gain
- Cycles of excessive sleep
- Unexpected changes in clothing, such as constantly wearing long sleeved shirts, to hide scarring at injection sites
- Suspected drug paraphernalia such as unexplained pipes, roach clips, or syringes
- For snorted drugs, chronic troubles with sinusitis or nosebleeds
- For smoked drugs, a persistent cough or bronchitis, leading to coughing up excessive mucus or blood
- Progressive severe dental problems (especially with methamphetamines)
Remember, addiction is treatable and there are ways to feel better. Speaking up is the first step. You aren’t alone.
