Relationship Advice on Drug Abuse and Drug Addiction

Sometimes the signs of drug abuse or drug addiction are very easy to spot. 

If you see someone using a needle to shoot up, or snorting cocaine off the coffee table…it’s not hard to figure out what’s happening.

On the other hand, drug users, like alcoholics, can become very accomplished at hiding what they’re doing.

And some of the symptoms can seem like offbeat personality traits or attitudes.

Sometimes it takes a combination of symptoms to make the case more clear. Here are some clues.

Mood swings

Irritability, anger, hostility, fatigue, agitation, anxiety, depression.

Psychoses

Especially hallucinations.

Physical difficulties

Lack of coordination and clumsiness.

Degraded mental faculties

Memory lapses and difficulty concentrating.
 

Financial and legal issues

Chronic lateness paying bills, or not paying bills at all. Calls from collection agencies. Losing track of money, bouncing lots of checks.

Trouble with the law

Being arrested, repeated traffic violations, disregard for paying parking tickets, petty theft, pilfering from work.
 

Problems on the job or in school

Chronic tardiness, absenteeism, difficulty getting along with other students or co-workers.

Suspicious friends

People don’t seem to “fit in” or behave strangely when you’re around.

Also see: Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, Gambling Addiction, Sex Addiction.