Warning Signs of Substance Abuse

10 Ways to Know if You or Someone You Love is Struggling with Substance Abuse

The most effective way to recognize if someone you love is struggling with substance abuse is to know the signs of abuse yourself. Substance abuse affects millions of people in America, and even more around the world, but most people don’t even realize that it’s happening until it’s too late. If you can identify these warning signs sooner rather than later, you may be able to intervene and avoid future problems associated with drug or alcohol abuse. Here are ten ways to know if you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse.

1) Partying and Lying

It’s easy to fall into a cycle of partying and lying when you’re trying to hide substance abuse from your friends and family. This leads not only to more substance abuse, but eventually other types of self-destructive behavior as well. If you find yourself spending more time lying than being honest, it might be time for a change. Remember: Once someone trusts you, it’s hard for them not to keep trusting you. Don’t throw that away!

2) Personality Changes

Personality changes can be a sign of drug abuse. If someone is abusing drugs, they may begin acting irritable, anxious, depressed and/or suspicious. They may also experience mood swings, which can make it difficult for them to sustain relationships with friends and family members. Sometimes, these personality changes are obvious; other times, they’re more subtle. For example, a normally outgoing person might become withdrawn and reclusive when struggling with substance abuse. Either way, you should pay attention to any noticeable shifts in your loved one’s behavior—and remember that substance abuse is often accompanied by mental health issues like depression and anxiety disorders.

3) Financial Issues

Having a budget isn’t just smart, it’s essential. The easiest way to determine whether someone is abusing drugs and alcohol is by looking at their personal finances. Is their spending out of control? Are they making irrational choices about where money goes? Do they have unpaid bills piling up? If so, those are red flags for substance abuse problems. It can be hard to see what’s going on when you’re caught in a cycle of addiction—but being able to recognize warning signs like these can help put things into perspective. If you think that you or someone you love may be struggling with drug or alcohol abuse, take some time today to look at your financial situation objectively. Doing so could save your life.

4) Poor Physical Health

If someone you know seems withdrawn, depressed, or just not themselves often, substance abuse may be at fault. When a person begins abusing drugs and alcohol on a regular basis, they put their body through a lot of strain. Drug and alcohol abuse can lead to serious physical health problems like gastrointestinal issues (including vomiting and stomach ulcers), liver damage, lung disease and heart failure. Additionally, ongoing drug use can also cause ulcers that never heal as well as infections in soft tissue that spread quickly throughout other organs of the body (severe cases have been known to shorten lifespans by up to 20 years). To protect yourself against these risks and others, pay attention when you see signs of drug abuse in your loved ones.

5) Isolation from Family and Friends

When someone begins to isolate themselves from loved ones, it’s a sign that something might be wrong. If someone you love has become less interested in spending time with family and friends, try asking them about it. The reason behind their behavior could be drug abuse. It’s important not to turn a blind eye and just hope that things will get better on their own. If you notice your loved one begin isolating themselves from others, don’t hesitate—talk to them about your concerns as soon as possible. Alcohol addiction and drug addiction are both dangerous addictions that need immediate attention before things get worse. Addiction can take away everything we love, leaving us feeling empty inside—it can take away our friends, families, homes, cars…you name it!

6) Legal Trouble

A person who uses drugs or alcohol often enough can easily run afoul of a number of legal issues. People who abuse substances are more likely to: be involved in an accident and end up in court, fail to show up for a court date, violate probation, get arrested and detained by police, etc. If you suspect that someone you love is struggling with substance abuse, it’s vital that you speak up. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that one-third of all violent crimes committed in the U.S. involve alcohol use; just think about how many thousands of people you know and ask yourself: Who among them might be struggling?

7) Strange Behavior

If you or someone you love has been acting strange and secretive, it could be a sign of substance abuse. Alcohol abuse is known for causing weird behavior; alcoholics may act much more jovial than usual after consuming alcohol. They can also become argumentative and combative at times. This type of behavior isn’t always caused by alcohol but if you notice it often when your loved one drinks, it’s definitely something to talk about with your doctor. With help from a medical professional, both you and your loved one will know how to handle such behavior safely and effectively moving forward. In addition, research shows that having an intervention early on in substance abuse can greatly reduce relapses. Therefore, getting help as soon as possible is highly recommended.

8) Lacking Motivation

If you’re struggling to find motivation for anything, substance abuse might be a big part of your problem. It’s hard to feel motivated and productive when you’re not feeling good about yourself and your life in general. For many people who are going through difficult circumstances, substance abuse offers an easy distraction from their problems that can quickly spiral out of control. If you notice yourself lacking any sort of motivation, it might be time to check in with your doctor about getting help for substance abuse.

9) Neglecting School or Work

There are serious consequences when you neglect your responsibilities as a student or employee. In some cases, you may be asked to leave school and might not be able to graduate on time. Employers can also terminate your employment and make it difficult for you to secure another job. In addition, students who do poorly in class can’t get into college or get scholarships they need for college. Parents who miss child support payments may even lose custody of their children. No matter what’s at stake, it’s important that you stay focused on your commitments and priorities by avoiding substance abuse.

10) Relationship Problems

Whether you’re struggling with substance abuse yourself, suspect someone you love might be, or just want to learn more about it and how it affects people in general, relationship problems are often a sign of abuse. A person abusing drugs will often have issues getting along with friends and family members, both of whom might sense that something is off but not know exactly what—and they likely won’t hear anything from an abuser who doesn’t want them involved. That can make things very hard for loved ones trying to help. If you notice a change in your loved one’s behavior toward you (or toward others), like being more mean or aloof than usual, it could be a sign that he’s starting to use again.

Where to Find Help

If you have a substance abuse problem, you should know that you’re not alone. There are many treatment and support groups, advocates and organizations willing to help. The first step in any recovery process is to make yourself aware of your options; once you know what’s available, it’s easier to figure out what path will be best for you.

Here are some useful websites:

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
https://www.samhsa.gov/

Mental Health America (MHA)
https://www.mhanational.org/find-support-groups

USA Gov – Find mental health services, including treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. Get help for veterans and family members to deal with mental health issues.
https://www.usa.gov/mental-health-substance-abuse