Q.  What are the signs and symptoms of drug abuse?

A.  Review each of these four categories frequently until you know them well.  This will enable you to be “on the lookout” for these signs and symptoms and to recognize them in your home, your workplace, or school.   By "getting involved" and helping those you love or care for, you may prevent drug problems before they reach crisis level!

First, an important caveat:  while the following in combination represent "known-indicators" of drug-abuse, they certainly do not "prove" abuse of drugs.  For example, a few of these indicators can be attributed to a newly-acquired emotional stress (death in the family, job loss, a divorce, etc.).  Frankly, a few of them are also identical to symptoms a person exhibits when they simply have the "flu-bug"!  You may even recognize that some of these symptoms are a "standard description" of how you might define the "personality" of someone - or a number of "someones" - whom you know very well.  In other words, "...it's just the way they have always been".

On the other hand, in combination, these symptoms could well be drug-abuse related....that's especially if you observe a "sudden" appearance of a combination (e.g., 3-4-5 or more) of these indicators in an individual you personally know very well.   If you recognize that these "indicators" represent "new" behavior for them, the possibility is strong that those sudden changes are a result of newly-begun drug-use.  Please keep the above caution in mind as you familiarize yourself with the following:

   - "Performance" indicators that are often (but not always) specific to drug-abuse
excessive absenteeism or tardiness
lower productivity, lower grades in school
missed deadlines
excessive equipment breakdown because of poor maintenance
deteriorating work quality
poor morale
increased minor accidents, mistakes
multiple reports of theft, missing personal items by co-workers, classmates

   - "Behavioral" indicators that are often (but not always) specific to drug-abuse
sudden change in attitude, work, or behavior- a new, “I don’t care attitude”
sudden deterioration of long friendships, relationships
"explosive" arguments and disagreements over small matters
frequent hangover symptoms
using drug culture jargon
secretive behavior
avoiding “straight” (non drug-users) co-workers or classmates
erratic behavior-forgetfulness-indecision
deterioration in personal appearance and hygiene
hyper-activity, constant toe or heel-tapping and/or "drumming" of fingers
easy excitability
restlessness, increased physical activity   wearing of long-sleeved garments in very warm weather
new financial problems or frequent borrowing of money

   - "Physical" indicators that are often (but not always) are specific to drug-abuse
small blood spots or bruises on skin
bloodshot or watery eyes
runny or irritated nose, irritating cough, sore throat
speech pattern changes, slurred speech, faster speech, slower speech
tremors or jitters
constant scratching of skin, "picking" at skin and hair on arms, etc.
poor coordination, tripping, spilling, bumping into things and other people
large or small (dilated) pupils
a faint skin odor- either sweet or acrid
easily fatigued or constantly fatigued
hyper-excitability

   - "Paraphernalia" indicators that are often (and almost always) specific to drug-abuse
possession of hypodermic needles, balloons, aluminum foil wrappers, mirrors or flat metal, short straws, glass pipes, smoking pipes, capsules, vials, or folded paper envelopes, a cigarette lighter (or small butane torch) when carried by a known "non-smoker"