There is the potential for serious withdrawal complications, including delirium tremens (DTs), a condition that can lead to hallucinations and life-threatening seizures. As a result, those who are addicted to alcohol should never attempt to stop drinking on their own; medical detox is required. Knowing the signs that someone is on drugs may help you identify when there is a problem. Taking steps to address this problem may save your loved one’s life.
What causes addiction?
People who inject drugs will have track marks on major veins. Track marks can appear as puncture wounds, scabs, or bruises on the forearms, hands, legs, and feet. Heroin, crystal meth, and other drugs can also be administered intravenously.
Teenage Substance Use Statistics
Behavior in general can become unpredictable, and people may frequently call in sick to work or school. Drug use can push people to borrow or steal money or other valuable items, and to https://ecosoberhouse.com/ neglect ongoing financial obligations. Irritability and mood swings, problems recalling information, and shifts in sleep-wake patterns are other common accompaniments of substance use.
How to Tell if Someone is Using Stimulant Drugs
Being Dishonest or Sneaky, Hiding Things, or Needing Increased Privacy. Most people are not going to be very public about their drug use, especially if it’s to an illegal substance. You may notice your loved one is lying about where they are or who they’re with. Maybe signs of drug use their story keeps changing, and they can never seem to be honest about what they’ve been up to. They may try to sneak in or out of the house, try to hide their drugs in their room or car, and they may spend more time alone in their room with the door locked.
It may not be easy to tell, especially in the early stages of addiction. Maybe you’ve seen changes in your loved one’s moods or behavior. Or maybe you have a feeling that your loved one is misusing opioids, even if you’re not sure.
- If left untreated drug addiction can lead to serious, life-altering effects on the body.
- The prefrontal cortex is responsible for giving someone the ability to plan, think, solve problems, make decisions, and have self-control over impulsivity.
- This can be the case with drugs such as amphetamines, alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs.
- Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives.
What Are the Early Signs of Addiction?
- Remember, though, that these signs alone don’t definitively prove addiction.
- A person addicted to opioids — or any substance — is much more likely to recover if the family doesn’t ignore the issue.
- Different drugs have different signs of intoxication, different side effects, and different withdrawal symptoms.
- Teens may use substances to self-medicate or numb emotional pain.
- From bloodshot scleras to pinpoint pupils, the eyes can be a dead giveaway for those in the know.