Substance abuse is an issue that affects many, and there are countless substances a person can develop a dependency for. Those directly affected by or who care for someone struggling with substance abuse often have difficulty identifying the most common signs of substance abuse. Often, these issues aren’t treated or even diagnosed until they become severe or until a major event happens. Helping people overcome substance abuse issues first starts with being able to identify key problems.
Neglecting Responsibilities
When a person you care for starts to neglect their usual responsibilities or has a drastic and noticeable change in how they attend to their accountabilities, one possible explanation is a substance abuse problem. Responsibility neglecting may look different among different people. Below is a brief breakdown of some identifiable factors in different age groups.
Teenagers and Young Adults
In teenagers and young adults, it may be tricky to distinguish substance abuse from typical teenage rebellion. In teens and young adults, one sign that could potentially be explained by a substance abuse problem is skipping school or flunking classes. It’s important to know the young adult or teen you’re observing. If math is a lifelong struggle, then flunking a math course while thriving in all other courses isn’t a red flag—although a tutor may be helpful! If a child who typically gets good grades starts flunking or doing poorly in multiple classes, it could be a sign of substance abuse. In young adults, suddenly dropping out of school or activities they typically enjoy is another sign.
Adults
Neglecting responsibilities often comes with more serious consequences for adults. Adults struggling with substance abuse may start skipping work, have trouble holding a job, neglect to pay their bills, and more. Skipping work and neglecting living expenses is a problem that tends to spiral and can result in losing a living situation, relationships, and more. If the adult has children, they may also start to neglect them by missing school pick-ups, forgetting important events, and more.
Damaging Relationships
When struggling with a substance abuse problem, it’s not uncommon to experience a loss of relationships and strain with loved ones. Drug use and cravings for drugs, or any other dangerous substance, can make a person more irritable, causing strain on relationships—especially those in close quarters.
Teenagers and Young Adults
A sudden change in friend groups can be a sign of drug abuse. When a teenager or young adult suddenly stops spending time with their lifelong friends, it can be a sign that a recent change severed the relational ties between the friends. The sudden onset of a new friend group is also a red flag.
Adults
Adults who are struggling with drug abuse often find themselves at odds with their family members. They may also lose relationships with old friends and have constant fights and tension with romantic partners. Adults may also experience tension with their children, regardless of the age of the child, as a result of missing important milestones, neglecting to care for the child, or a lack of prioritizing the child’s needs.
Participation in Risky Behavior
Another one of the most common signs of substance abuse is participating in risky behaviors. Those struggling with substance abuse often find themselves participating in risky behavior that they otherwise wouldn’t partake in. This also differs on a case-by-case basis but can be a definite sign of drug abuse. When a person starts doing things they regularly wouldn’t do, finds themselves in legal trouble when this is atypical of them, or stops doing things they used to enjoy, they may be dealing with a substance problem. Below are a few examples of risky or atypical behavior:
Driving while under the influence
Having unprotected sex
Using dirty needles
Eating unhealthily or not eating at all
Sudden weight gain or weight loss
Quit hobbies that were once central to their personalities
Spending a lot of time thinking about drugs or how to get them again
Missing important deadlines and neglecting bills
Tolerance Build Up
When a person starts using a drug, they may only require a little bit to get that high feeling they’re looking for. When that same person starts to use more and more, their body will build up a tolerance to that certain drug. This then requires them to take larger doses of that drug to feel the effects they used to get from a small amount. This puts them at risk of overdosing. Overdosing comes with a slew of unpleasant and dangerous symptoms, and can even cause death.
Building up a tolerance often comes with a life that begins to revolve around drugs. While a person may have started drug use with a small dose every few days, they may quickly require larger doses every day. This takes a mental and financial toll. Often, this increased tolerance leads to a person obsessively thinking about drugs and figuring out where their next dose will come from and how they’ll pay for it. Once somebody’s life revolves around drugs, they are dealing with a serious and dangerous abuse problem.
Experiencing Withdrawal and Unpleasant Cravings
When a person abuses a substance, they may experience highly unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms when they go long periods without drugs. These include:
Anxiety
Depression
Nausea
Restlessness
Insomnia
Shaking
Uncontrollable sweating
Muscle pain
Excessive hunger
Agitation
Irritability
Uncontrollable crying
Suicidal or self-harming thoughts or actions
Clammy skin
Lethargy
Sudden loss of appetite
Nightmares
Dilated pupils
Seizures
Extreme pain sensitivity
Slurred speech
Nerve pain
Weakness
Vomiting
Stomach cramps
Hallucinations
Paranoia
There are many symptoms of drug withdrawal or cravings. These can cause serious issues and may require medical attention. If you or a person you know is experiencing any of these symptoms due to drug use, withdrawal, or drug cravings, contact a medical professional.
Even if you reprove of your loved one’s substance abuse problem, it’s important to encourage them to seek help. Addiction is a disease that can and must be treated.
Consider investing in saliva drug test kits which are easy to use and yield accurate results. These testing kits are designed to test for up to 14 different substances. Contact American Screening Corp today for more information on drug testing kits. We aim to provide you with high-quality and accurate testing solutions for any application.
