How to tell if a loved one is an addict:
A loved one with an apparent drug abuse problem, most families and friends never see it coming. How did they not notice? How could this happen right in front of their eyes? Many people may have thoughts that something is wrong, but they are still not sure what the telltale signs are.
Addiction is a gathering of many factors. Not all cases of drug use instantly mean there is an addiction problem. There are many people out there who use drugs recreationally, and while it is illegal to do so and not healthy it usually doesn’t require much action. The most common course of action for drug addiction is a drug rehab program. Listed below are some of the easiest ways to tell if your loved one is struggling with an addiction.
- Finding Drug Paraphernalia - This is a dead giveaway. Have you recently found needles? Rolled up dollar bills or short straws? Glass pipes? Tin foil with black streaks? These are a few examples of what you might find if your loved one is abusing heavy drugs; ie heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, pills, meth.
- Physical Signs –When a loved one uses drugs there’s a few easy physical signs to keep an eye out for. Blood shot eyes, dilated pupils, pinned (small) pupils, excessively runny nose, constant itching, red marks on veins, puffy face, lack of skin pigment and open sores are all signs. These aren’t the only ones but these are just some common examples. If you notice these things and it seems be more often than not than addiction may be plaguing your loved one’s life.
- Sleep Habits: People who are abusing drugs have very strange sleeping patterns. They maybe up for 24 hours one day and then sleeping the next 24 hours. A healthy sleep scheduled is almost unheard of when addiction is in the picture. You may notice you loved one “nodding out”. That is when it appears one is falling asleep even while in the middle of tasks.
- Reclusive or Hermit like behavior: Did your loved one use to be at dinner with the family; were they often going out with friends and going to a variety of different social gatherings? Has this stopped recently? When one is in the middle of an addiction they tend to keep to themselves. This isn’t always the case, some people are just introverts, but if you have recently noticed a change like this than drug addiction maybe the problem.
- Short on Money/Missing Items- Has your loved one been asking for help financially a lot recently? Does it seem like they don’t even get a paycheck anymore even though they are working full time? Unexplainable lack of finances usually means there can be some trouble brewing. Have you noticed some of your possessions or cash missing recently? Addiction will often cause love ones to steal from the ones they care about most.
Have you noticed some of these things going on recently? Then a loved one maybe or is an addict. If so, do yourself a favor a buy a drug test at a local drug store. This will help give you definitive answers on to what is wrong. Approach your loved one early in the morning and don’t leave their side until they have successfully taken this test for you. Result will typically be available within 5 minutes of a sample being taken.
If the test comes back with positive results for a dangerous narcotic make sure you get them the help they need. Time is of the essence is a situation like this, get them help before it’s too late.
