Signs of Drug Use & Addiction: How To Tell if Someone Is On Drugs

Independent of the addictive process, problems can also develop from the taking of any chemical substance. Many people struggling with addiction cannot support healthy relationships because their priority is drug use. They often let drug use get in the way of their relationships with friends, family members, and romantic partners. Among teens, it is also important to pay attention to their school behavior and whether or not you’re getting calls from their teachers about new bad behaviors that have little explanation.

Types of Substance Use Disorder

SUD can affect various areas of a person’s life, such as work, school, or family responsibilities. These CNS depressants are often prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Benzodiazepines include common medications, such as Valium and Xanax.

Medical Professionals

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. Drug use can have significant and damaging short-term and long-term effects. Taking some drugs can be particularly risky, especially if you take high doses or combine them with other drugs or alcohol.

Substance Use Disorders: Types, Symptoms, and Treatments

• The effects of these drugs can be dangerous and unpredictable, as there is no quality control and some ingredients may not be known.
• This article reviews statistics, risk factors, health effects, signs, and treatment for teenage drug addiction.
• One commonly used short screening for substance use is the UNCOPE questionnaire.
• It’s important to know the signs and symptoms of drug addiction.

Drug abuse and addiction is less about the  type or amount of the substance consumed or the frequency of your drug use, and more about the consequences of that drug use. If your drug use is causing problems in your life—at work, school, home, or in your relationships—you likely have a drug abuse or addiction problem. To assess a person’s risk for SUD, a healthcare professional may begin with a short screening. This may then be followed by a comprehensive evaluation and a referral to a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. When it comes to common social behaviors like drinking or smoking, it might be difficult to determine if there’s an addiction problem. What looks like addiction could be an experimental phase or a form of stress management.

More in Addiction

Teens may use substances to self-medicate or numb emotional pain. If someone in your house is having a problem with drugs or alcohol, watch for red flags. Frequent use of eye drops or air fresheners can be warning signs.

Many people are caught in a vicious cycle of using alcohol or signs of drug use cannabis to fall asleep and then nicotine, caffeine, and sugar to be more alert. Drugs for weight loss are top of mind but out of reach for many despite wide-ranging benefits. Discover effective strategies for parents to foster healthy digital habits in this essential guide. The approval of marijuana for medical use does benefit those for whom it is intended.

• Ecstasy, ketamine, and GHB are common types of club drugs.
• There may also be no drive to complete work or perform how they once did, especially if work-related stress is what led to substance abuse in the first place.
• Vaping is attractive to teens because e-cigarettes are often flavored like fruit, candy, or mint.
• Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement.

Behavioral

• The causes of substance use disorder are unknown, but risk factors have been identified.
• The condition can affect any person regardless of age, race and ethnicity, income level, or gender.
• In general, when narcotics are used under proper medical supervision, addiction happens in only a small percentage of people.
• You may have a problem with addiction if your drug or alcohol use is out of control.

But usually, you’re able to change your unhealthy habits or stop using altogether. People may feel that a substance is adversely affecting their lives and relationships, or that they have trouble stopping use. Reaching out to a doctor can be the first step to recovery. Getting treatment can help prevent long-term negative health effects from SUD. A healthcare professional may screen for psychiatric symptoms to rule out other disorders.