Signs of Substance Abuse
Because substance abusers come from all socioeconomic and cultural groups, health care professionals often encounter people who are skilled at masking their addiction and enlisting the aid of others to obtain drugs.2 Some of the more obvious physical and behavioral signs of substance abuse are:
- Careless in appearance, dress, and personal hygiene (especially in someone who is usually neat and well-groomed)
- Wearing long sleeves to cover needle marks
- Dramatic weight loss
- Wearing sunglasses to mask dilated or constricted pupils or eye redness
- Unusual behavior such as gazing or slurred speech
Psychological and social signs include:
- Anxiety, insomnia, depression, and suicide attempts
- Social isolation
- Mood changes
- Severe marital problems and status changes
- Social problems at work or school
- Frequent job changes and moves to new areas
- Changes of friends or associates
- Child or spouse abuse
