How To Identify The Drug Addiction Symptoms of Family Members

There are many signs that point to drug addiction, and recognizing them in your family member sooner rather than later might be an important step in helping them get treatment. The symptoms of drug addiction in your family member or loved one might include:

• altered sleep patterns
• red eyes, enlarged pupils
• constant sniffling and runny nose
• apathy towards normal activities and relationships
• disinterest in school or work
• shirking responsibilities
• mood swings, irritability, anxiety, paranoia and depression
• unexplained absences
• respiratory problems; trouble breathing
• slurred speech
• memory problems
• psychotic breaks
• aggressive, agitated and angry
• strange behaviour
• owning paraphernalia
• buying nasal sprays, eye drops and other products to hide the signs
• borrowing or stealing money from other people in the house
• run-ins with police
• theft and petty crime
• lost interest in hygiene and appearance
• hiding things, acting suspicious and sketchy; requiring more privacy than normal
• panic, sweating, tremors, seizures
• sudden serious health problems like heart conditions, liver failure, hypertension, etc.
• associating with a new crowd of friends

Of course none of these conditions necessarily means a drug problem on its own. There can be other reasonable explanations for even a handful of these events to be occurring in a person’s life without it being a drug addiction, or substance abuse. A combination of quite a few of them together, causing a noticeable difference in that person’s life, however, could mean there is a problem

If you think that someone in your family is exhibiting some of these signs, it is best to observe them over a few weeks’ time and see what insights you might gain. There could be other reasons for the signs, but it could be drug addiction. Of course you don’t want the problem to go on for too long, if it is substance abuse, so consulting with a doctor or an addictions counsellor, like the ones at Horizon’s Clinic, will help you sort out what’s going on in your family member’s life, and if it is a drug addiction issue.

You know your family member better than most people, so be sure to take into account their usual behaviour and daily life. If your teenaged child is usually apathetic about hygiene, or gets bad grades, or misses curfew, then these occurrences are not necessarily indicative of a drug problem. But if you notice a variety of these signs spring up in a short period of time, there is possibly a problem.

Financial problems are also a good indicator of a drug problem, so if your spouse seems to be hemorrhaging money, or you’re noticing odd withdrawals on your chequing account, that might also point to a problem. Again, you know the regular behaviour better than anyone, so keep a vigilant eye on the changes that occur.

As the family member, be sure you’re getting the right support for what’s going on. By connecting with Horizon’s Clinic, you’ll rest assured that your loved one is getting the treatment they need, and you’re also getting the help to get through this hard time.