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

There’s no question that substance use is widespread in the US. Per 2013-2015 data from NIDA’s National Survey of Drug Use and Health, 65.7 percent of individuals 12 and older used alcohol the prior year, 13.5 percent used marijuana or hashish, and 17.8 percent reported using illicit drugs. In their lifetime, 81 percent of those surveyed reported drinking alcohol, 44 percent said they smoked marijuana or hashish, and 48.8 percent had used illicit drugs. The longer one uses a substance, the harder it is to stop without experiencing cravings and withdrawal symptoms. As a result, recognizing the signs of drug use sooner rather than later is important.

Signs & Symptoms of Drug Addiction

There are common signs of habitual drug use across all substances as well as signs that are unique to the type of substance abused.

Knowing these signs can help to identify whether a loved one may be using drugs and risking harmful consequences to their health, school, job, and family life.

If a person is abusing any drug, there are some of the general signs to look for. These include:

• Difficulties at school, disinterest in school-related activities, and declining grades
• Poor work performance, being chronically late to work, appearing tired and disinterested in work duties, and receiving poor performance reviews
• Changes in physical appearance, such as wearing inappropriate or dirty clothing and a lack of interest in grooming
• Altered behavior, such as an increased desire for privacy
• Drastic changes in relationships
• A noticeable lack of energy when performing daily activities
• Spending more money than usual or requesting to borrow money
• Issues with financial management, such as not paying bills on time
• Changes in appetite, such as a decreased appetite and associated weight loss
• Bloodshot eyes, poor skin tone, and appearing tired or run down
• Defensiveness when asked about substance use

If you or your loved one are exhibiting signs of addiction but you don’t know where to turn, American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help. Our fully licensed team of medical providers and network of credentialed treatment facilities have helped thousands of people get back on their feet and lead a life in recovery. We offer best-in-class care for substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health disorders, treating the whole patient and setting them up for a lifetime of success. Take the next step by contacting us today.

Use may become addiction when users continue to seek and use drugs or alcohol despite the negative impacts of using the substance.

How to Spot Drug Use in Adolescents

While overall moodiness can simply be part of adolescence and the teen years, drug use is generally signified by more drastic changes in mood or behaviors in this age group. Per the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), signs of drug use in adolescents include acting withdrawn, tired, depressed, or hostile.

Parents should take note when a child starts associating with a different group of peers, as changes in peer groups may be linked with substance use. An adolescent using drugs might also miss classes, skip school, or change their eating or sleeping habits. Parents can also listen for their kids using slang terms for certain drugs of abuse.

If drug use is suspected, prompt intervention is vital. Parents can get help from guidance counselors, primary care physicians, and drug abuse treatment providers.

Signs of Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol is one of the most widely abused substances in the US. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in 2012, 17 million adults ages 18 and older had alcohol use disorder in the United States.

Both alcohol abuse and alcoholism come with a variety of signs and symptoms. Oftentimes, “functional alcoholics” may be able to hide or minimize these signs for some time; however, over time, it generally becomes harder and harder to hide the issue.

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, alcohol abuse can cause blackouts and memory loss. A person may have flushed skin and broken capillaries, particularly in the face. With severe alcohol use disorder, the hands may tremble, and the voice may take on a huskier tone. Long-term abuse of alcohol can lead to chronic diarrhea and even vomiting blood.

When an individual suffering from alcohol use disorder stops drinking, they will experience withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches, nausea, insomnia, and anxiety. 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.

Other common signs of alcohol addiction include:

• Lack of control over how much one drinks and for how long
• Preference to drink alone, in secret, or during odd times, such as the morning
• Continuing to drink despite interpersonal, physical, and psychological problems related to it
• Depression, irritability, and mood swings, plus a propensity to argue with friends and family members
• Drinking to cope with problems, to relax, to sleep, or to improve mood

How Drugs Affect Your Appearance

It is not always possible to tell if someone is using drugs; however, chronic substance use can affect someone’s appearance by damaging their:

• Skin. Injection drugs can leave visible “track marks” on someone’s arms or other places they inject themselves. Scar tissue often develops in areas where the skin is unable to heal properly from repeated injections. Someone may also develop abscesses and cellulitis from missing a vein with the needle, causing bacterial infections. Methamphetamine use (even through non-injection methods) can also harm the skin, since sensations caused by the drug can lead someone to pick at their skin, causing scarring, infections, abscesses, and cellulitis. Someone’s skin may also be affected by alcohol use, since the effects of alcohol on the liver may cause spider angiomas (dilated blood vessels) and jaundice (yellow-tinted skin or eyes),
• Teeth and gums. Chronic substance use can be extremely damaging to someone’s oral health. Meth use can cause severe tooth decay, often known as “meth mouth.” Substance use often causes someone to neglect their oral hygiene, leading to gum disease and tooth decay. Stimulant drugs also cause teeth grinding, which can wear down teeth over time. People that use opioids may crave sweet foods that are rich in sugar and may rot someone’s teeth. Alcohol, marijuana, opioids, and other drugs cause dry mouth, which can also damage someone’s teeth.
• Hair. Chronic drug use can cause someone to lose their hair and for their hair to turn gray due to the extreme levels of stress it can cause. Additionally, trichotillomania (pulling out one’s hair) is a coping strategy someone may employ to handle significant levels of stress.

Signs of Abuse Related to Specific Drugs

In addition to general signs of drug use, specific signs of abuse are associated with particular drugs. This information can help a person spot signs of abuse in a friend, family member, or coworker.

Marijuana/Cannabis

Marijuana and other cannabis-based products, such as edibles, may induce euphoria. They can cause heightened visual and auditory perceptions, but the user may also seem uncoordinated and forgetful. Since cannabis increases appetite, the person may eat more than usual. Reactions may be slower, and the user may also become paranoid and suspicious. Those who have smoked marijuana often appear with bloodshot eyes, droopy eyelids, and an overall relaxed or mellow demeanor.

Stimulants

A person on a stimulant may exhibit frequent behavior changes, aggression, or rapid or rambling speech. They may display dilated pupils, increased energy, and a fast breathing rate. In some cases, users may become paranoid or hostile. If users snort the drug, nasal congestion is a common sign of use. Snorting drugs like cocaine can damage the mucous membrane inside the nose.

Barbiturates and Benzodiazepines

These CNS depressants are often prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Benzodiazepines include common medications, such as Valium and Xanax. Barbiturates are not used as much as they used to be; however, they are still sometimes employed to treat seizure disorders and during surgery. Barbiturates carry a higher risk of overdose than benzodiazepines. A person who abuses these drugs may appear uninhibited, dizzy, or depressed. They may experience blurry vision, balance issues, and overall confusion. They may also present with involuntary eye movements, known as nystagmus.

Hallucinogens

The signs of hallucinogen use vary depending on the specific hallucinogen in question. LSD may cause a person to act impulsively and experience hallucinations. They may claim to hear colors or see sounds, and in some cases, they may experience tremors. If a person has used PCP, they may be unable to feel pain and seem intolerant to loud noise. Someone who has used psilocybin, or “magic mushrooms,” may experience hallucinations, nausea, muscle twitching, and difficulty differentiating between hallucinations and reality. People on hallucinogens may appear drowsy, panicked, or at peace, depending on the type of “trip” they are having.

Opioids

Opioids include both prescription painkillers, like Vicodin and OxyContin, and the illicit drug heroin. Signs of opioid abuse include overall sedation, memory issues, inability to concentrate, slowed reaction times, lethargy, and mood swings. Since opioids can slow the digestive system, users often experience constipation and other intestinal issues. When without the drug, users may become anxious and display flulike symptoms.

Club drugs

Ecstasy, ketamine, and GHB are common types of club drugs. Signs and symptoms of use include increased body temperature, poor coordination, dizziness, excessive sweating, clenched teeth, and slurred speech.

Can You Become Addicted to Drugs on the First Use?

Drug addiction typically develops over time through repeated use. That said, one of the immediate effects caused by drug use is increased activity of the brain chemical dopamine, which is involved in feelings of motivation and reward. This action leads someone to want to repeat the behavior, which reinforces the desire to use a drug again and again.

There are many factors outside of the effects of the drug itself that increase someone’s propensity for addiction. This includes:

• Family history with substance use.
• Epigenetics, which is the effects of someone’s environment on their gene expression.
• Substance use at an early age.
• Experiencing trauma, especially during childhood.
• Environmental factors (e.g., a high-stress living situation).
• Co-occurring disorders. Someone with a mental health disorder (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD) is more likely to suffer from addiction and vice versa.

The presence of one or more of the above does not mean someone will get addicted to drugs; however, the more risk factors someone has the more likely they are to develop an addiction.

The Importance of Early Intervention & Treatment

If drug use is suspected, early invention is essential to ensure the most robust chances of successful recovery. Friends and family members may choose to stage an intervention once signs of drug use are apparent; if so, a professional interventionist can guide the planning process and the execution of the event for best results.

Loved ones should also research comprehensive addiction treatment programs. Treatment should include both medical detox and therapy to address the underlying issues related to substance use.

How To Tell Someone To Stop Taking Drugs & Seek Help

The following are tips on how to talk to a loved one about their substance use.

• Focus on your concern about your loved one’s substance use.
• Explain that you’re worried about your loved one’s health.
• Avoid using labels like “alcoholic” or “addict.”
• Be empathic and understanding.
• Offer options instead of demands.

Admissions navigators at American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help you find treatment for a loved one. Call or text to learn more and begin the admissions process.