Signs and Symptoms of Drug Abuse

To most people, the word "addiction" conjures up pictures of heroin addicts injecting themselves with dirty needles, or Mafia gangs, pushers, and street fights. But hard drug addiction is only one aspect of a growing problem -- and it is not even the most common or the most important. For addiction has become a part of everyday life.

The earlier an addiction is discovered, the better chance the addict has of recovery.

General symptoms are:

-- Behaving out of character when there is no obvious explanation.
-- Mood swings, anxiety, depression, fear, bad temper, lethargy, and tiredness.
-- Unusual laziness and unreliability; poor performance at school or work.
-- Neglecting food and appearance.
-- Constant sniffing, dry cough, and skin peeling around the lips.

Specific symptoms include:

-- Pinpoint-size eye pupils - a sign of morphine and heroin addicts.
-- Unsteadiness, trembling of the limbs, confusion, sometimes resembling drunkenness, are indicators of tranquilizer dependence.
-- Red eyes, over-relaxed, and drowsy are the signs of a cannabis user.
-- Disoriented or giggly - telltale behavior of LSD users.

Signs to look for include:

-- Unusual smells or substances around the house - tubes of glue, tablets, capsules, powder, greenish-brown "tobacco", homemade cigarette stubs, and hypodermic needles.
-- Uncharacteristic dishonesty - stealing, perhaps to buy drugs.
-- Changes in the person's circle of friends, attitudes, and interests.
-- Needle injection marks or bruises on the inside of the elbow.