The consequences of drug addiction are costly for both the user and those around him or her. Accidents, domestic violence, crime, lost opportunities and man hours, illnesses, reduced productivity, and wasted lives are all part of drug abuse. Families are shattered or never formed, promising lives are snuffed, and degradation of bodies and psyches are major issues.
There are many signs of drug addiction. Keep in mind that many of them mimic symptoms of illness or other issues. Just because someone has a runny nose doesn’t mean he or she is a cocaine addict, and a lapse in personal grooming may be a sign that they didn’t have change at the laundromat or time to comb their hair.
Also keep in mind that not every drug taken means someone is an addict, although use does open the door to the potential abuse.
The key to seeing signs of drug addiction is a prolonged and significant change in appearance, habits and psychological makeup. When someone who has behaved one way starts behaving completely differently, it’s typically a sign that something is wrong. Many times, that sign is drug addiction.
Here are the top seven issues that may be physical signs of drug activity:
1) Sleep issues – People who are constantly awake, get up at strange times of the day or sleep far longer than the typical eight to 10 hours without any increase in physical activity or who work long hours may have a drug problem.
2) Changes in appetite – The pendulum can swing both ways on this one. Some drug addictions cause appetite loss and a gaunt appearance. Others create enormous appetites, sometimes termed “the munchies” for the prodigious amounts of food consumed. Extreme deviations are usually a sign that something is going on.
3) Cold, sweaty, shaking hands – There’s something to be said for a warm, firm grip. The opposite is also true, as an addict may present with a weak handshake.
4) The eyes have it – Clear eyes with little signs of redness are the mark of sharpness. Red, watery eyes with dilated or tiny pupils are an indication that something else is affecting these windows to the soul.
5) Smells – As with alcohol, unusual breath can be a telltale sign of drug problems. Plus, addicts don’t usually hang out in the cleanest areas, so clothes may capture the stench, and the lack of bathing may give it away.
6) Hyperactivity – The grandiosity created by some drugs may induce a user to non-stop talking, walking, hand-waving and other frenzied manifestations of the drugs coursing in their veins.
7) Problems walking – It’s not easy to navigate the world when drugs alter the senses. Staggering or other difficulties are a manifestation of potential drug use as well.
Those are some of the major signs. Here are more telltale issues.
Other Signs Of Problems
8) Needle marks – If someone is wearing long sleeves even in the hottest weather, they may be trying to cover-up the telltale signs of needle marks. Scabs along the forearms are one sign, but severe addicts may also use their legs or the bottoms of their feet for injections.
9) Nausea – Addicts are like surfers, riding the wave and then crashing down. During withdrawal, nausea or vomiting, along with excessive sweating, may reveal the issue.
10) Runny nose – Cocaine loosens the nasal membranes, causing runny noses and sometimes nosebleeds. While that may be a symptom of a head cold, a constant runny nose without a diagnosis may indicate drug use.
11) Puffy, pale faces – Most drug addicts don't spend lot of time in the sun, resulting in a deathly pallor. There’s also the issue of drugs draining blood flow away and causing poor circulation or fluid buildup.
12) Frequent itching or rubbing – Along with hyperactivity, the drug addict often must touch certain body parts in a frenzied way, sometimes rubbing the nose to control runny nose fluids, other times twisting the face or jaw or grinding teeth. It’s part of the strange sensations caused by drugs.
13) Irregular heartbeat – Drugs cause alterations in all of the body’s rhythms and none more so than the heart, which pumps blood throughout the body. Arrhythmia may be hard to detect, but a doctor can tell.
14) Personality changes – Was someone who was once outgoing now withdrawn? Are they showing performance issues at school or work where none existed before? These deviations from established patterns typically mean something is causing an issue, and that something may be drugs.
15) Dishonesty – Drug addicts have something to hide, and they usually have poor explanations for where they’ve been and their associations. Strange new friends may be a sign that something isn’t quite right.
16) Attention deficit and temper – Drug addicts fixate on their next fix and are hard to engage. Forgetfulness and memory lapses, bursts of rage, oversensitivity and resentfulness may simply be a momentary issue, but frequent issues, particularly if out of character from previous times, is not a good sign.
17) Paranoia – Looking out the window, glancing about, nervous fidgeting and over-reactions to noise or other issues mean nerves are on edge. Some substance may be causing that reaction.
18) Car accidents – Careful drivers don’t usually have a string of accidents. People whose minds are elsewhere or whose attention may be compromised are not great at paying attention to what’s going on in the roadway.
19) Theft – Are items mysteriously disappearing? Drugs are costly, and the desperate need for drugs leads to theft and other means to obtain the cash to pay for them.
20) Drug items – Tiny plastic bags, small pipes, folding knives and tiny mirrors are unusual items to have in one's possession. Their presence may be innocent but likely are a sign of drug activity.
There are many behaviors and physical signs that can indicate there is a drug addict in your midst. Communication is the key to determining how to help them. Family members might want to confront the perceived addict in a compassionate way, hoping to reach out and solve any issues before they escalate.