Drug Abuse Symptoms

What are the Drug Abuse Symptoms?

There is a lot of bewildering different words used to describe Drug Abuse Symptoms use and addiction problems. Not every one will agree with the definitions here for Drug Abuse Symptoms below, but being consistent about the terms used helps to reduce the confusion and anxiety everyone feels when faced with this problem.

The use of chemicals to alter the way we feel and see things are one of the oldest activities of the human race.

But a person's use of a drug such as tobacco, alcohol, cannabis or heroin can become uncontrolled, or start to control them. Even when the use of drugs leads to serious physical and mental problems, the person using may still not want to stop. If they do decide to give up, they may then find it's much harder than they thought.

Teen Challenge is working with specialists who are trained to recognise all aspects and symptoms of alcohol and/or drug abuse. Here you can apply for an interview now to determine the degree of your addiction. You can help someone in your family or your friends if they need freedom from addictions. Free drug rehab is just a click away. Don’t wait!

Here is a basic checklist frequently used by counselors to see if alcohol and other Drug Abuse Symptoms may be an issue in someone's life.

1. Frequent intoxication

  • Does the person report or appear to be frequently high or intoxicated?
  • Do recreational activities center around drinking or other drug use, including getting, using, and recovering from use?

2. Atypical social settings

  • Does the immediate peer group of the individual suggest that substance abuse may be encouraged?
  • Is the person socially isolated from others and is substance abuse occurring alone?
  • Is the person reluctant to attend social events where chemicals won't be available?

3. Intentional heavy use

  • Does the person use "social drugs" with prescribed medications?
  • Does the person use more than is safe in light of other medications they may be using, or because of compromised tolerance due to illness or disability?
  • Does the person have an elevated tolerance as evidenced by the use of large quantities of alcohol or other drugs without appearing intoxicated?

4. Symptomatic drinking

  • Are there predictable patterns of use which are well known to others?
  • Is there a reliance on chemicals to cope with stress?
  • Has the person made lifestyle changes yet the drug use has stayed the same or increased? (e.g. changed friends or moved to another area)

5. Psychological dependence

  • Does the person rely on drugs as a means of coping with negative emotions?
  • Does the person believe that pain can't be coped with without medication?
  • Does the person obviously feel guilty about some aspect of their use of alcohol or other drugs?

6. Health problems

  • Are there medical conditions which decrease tolerance or increase the risk of substance abuse problems?
  • Are there medical situations which are aggravated by repeated alcohol or other drug use?
  • Did the person ever suffer an accident or disability while under the influence, even if it is denied by the person?

7. Job problems

  • Is the person underemployed or unemployed?
  • Has the person missed work or gone to work late due to use of alcohol or other drugs?
  • Does the person blame the drinking on work related problems?

8. Problems with significant others 

  • Has a family member or friend expressed concern about the person's use?
  • Have important relationships been lost or impaired due to chemical use?

9. Problems with law or authority

  • Has the person been in trouble with authorities or arrested for any alcohol or drug related offenses?
  • Have there been instances when the person could have been arrested but wasn't?
  • Does the person seem angry at "the system" and at authority figures in general?

10. Financial problems

  • Is the person's spending money easily accounted for?
  • Does the person frequently miss making payments when they are due?

11. Belligerence

  • Does the person appear angry or defensive but doesn't know why?
  • Is the person defensive or angry when confronted about chemical use?

12. Isolation

  • Does increasing isolation suggest heavier substance abuse?
  • Is the person giving up or changing social and family activities in order to use?