Throughout our lives, it is normal to develop a certain affection for certain people and to care about how they are both emotionally and physically. For a variety of reasons, we may notice something different in our immediate social circle if we observe strange behavior, a physical change, and/or a different emotion. But how can we know if a person is on drugs?
There are substances that cause significant health deterioration, such as drugs. The information we may have about this topic can provide us with tools to identify the symptoms of an adult drug addict, in order to understand and help those who suffer from this type of problem. If any of this sounds familiar to you, this article may help you. Do you want to know more about this? In this Psychology-Online article we will provide you with information about how to tell if a person uses drugs at a glance.
Physical changes
You may be wondering “How do I know if my partner uses drugs?”, in order to identify the symptoms of a drug addict As an adult you have to know one of the most important aspects: physical changes. Here we will point out the most important ones to take into account:
- Body tremors.
- Baggy eyes.
- Weight gain or loss.
- Lack of motor coordination.
- Difficulties in pronouncing words.
- Decay and/or exaltation.
- red eyes.
- Spots on the face.
- Frequent nasal congestion.
- Recurrent oral diseases.
- Shaking chills.
- Sweating.
- Eruptions.
- Agitation.
As you may have read, many of these symptoms of a drug addict are linked to the nervous system (shaking, sweating or chills); If you want to know more about them and their impact on the body, we recommend you read our article on .
Changes in personality
Beyond the physical changes that arise from drug consumption, certain changes in personality may also appear. depending on the type of drug let it be consumed. So how can we know if a person is on drugs?
To do this, it is important to take into account the attitudes that the subject takes, since the symptoms of drug addiction can vary depending on the frequency and duration of consumption. The most relevant personality changes are the following:
- Irritability.
- Aggressiveness.
- Lack of perception of the environment.
- Social isolation.
- Disinterest in people and the world.
- Persistent anxiety.
- Thoughts about harm that the person using could suffer.
- Euphoria.
- Manipulative attitudes.
Habit changes
In addition to the changes that appear in terms of physical appearance and personality, it is also true that changes can occur in the habits of drug addicts. Here we will describe the most important changes in habits that will help you know if a person uses drugs at a glance:
- Lack of organization in terms of life routines.
- Changes in sleep hygiene.
- Loss or decrease in labor performance.
- Repeated absences from educational institutions (if applicable).
- Robbery attempts to get money.
In case you have noticed the typical symptoms of a drug addict in people in your close circle, and even in your partner, we leave you the following post about
Cognitive problems
Within the symptoms of drug addiction, another aspect that must be taken into consideration lies in the thinking area. When the drug is introduced into a person’s life, cognitive changes occur that are harmful. In this section we will highlight the main items to determine if a person uses drugs:
- Lack of concentration and attention.
- Decrease in the ability to understand.
- Memory loss in the short and long term.
- Difficulties in acquiring new content.
Social problems
Because of what was mentioned in previous sections, there are certain problems that people who use drugs may have in social relationships since they are negatively affected as a result of the changes in behavior they suffer. Next, we will locate the main social problems:
- State changing mood.
- Isolation.
- Lack of empathy.
- Aggression with the environment.
- Social conflicts in the school and work environment.
Changes in the consumption of material resources
When we talk about drug addiction symptoms linked to material resources, we are referring to those elements that are part of a person’s daily life. As an example, we can mention the knife, a debit or credit card, among others.
On a general level, it is possible that someone who suffers from drug use uses these materials in order to use them in the ingestion of substances. That is why we must pay special attention to this issue to know if a person uses drugs at first glance:
- The money is used for the purpose of obtaining drugs.
- Use of flavorings to prevent consumption from being discovered.
- Recurrent sale of household objects in exchange for substances.
Consequences of drug addiction
The recurrence and relapses in intake of toxic substances produce severe consequences that affect health. If you want to know more about the topic, check out our post. Next, we will locate the main Negative effects that arise from drug consumption:
- Respiratory diseases.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Psychiatric pathologies.
- Loss of social ties.
- Blood circulation problems.
- Psychological disorders derived from drug use.
- Death.
How to act when a close person uses drugs
You already know how to tell if a person uses drugs at a glance; Now, in the presence of the characteristics displayed in the previous points about the symptoms of an adult drug addict, it is essential to know the ways to address this problem.
For this reason, we list some guidelines to consider so that you know what to do if a person uses drugs:
- Provide containment: This means being close to the person who uses drugs without judging them for their behavior. In other words, this lets the person know that they can trust whoever approaches them.
- Suggest some treatment: When there are behaviors linked to drug addiction, it is important that health professionals intervene to address this type of problem.
- Express concern: This allows the person to know that there is an environment that wants their recovery. Here family and close friends play a transcendental role.
Given the relevance of the consequences of being addicted to drugs, it is important to work on prevention from an early age and give young people tools to say “no” to drugs. Click on the following articles to know and.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to tell if a person uses drugs at a glancewe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- Villa Moral Jimenez, M., Ovejero Bernal, A. (2005). Modification of attitudes, habits and frequency of consumption of alcohol and other psychoactive substances in Spanish adolescents based on an educational-preventive program. Colombian Journal of Psychology, 14 (1), 100-118.
- Waisman Campos, M. (2017). Aspects of practice. Psychoactive substances and the effects of their use. Madrid: Panamericana Medical Publishing House