In many cases your loved ones will try and act normal during drug use. Subtle signs of personality change or physical changes will give them away. The best of people in the beginning turn a blinds eye in the beginning. Simply dismissing these signs and saying to them selves as “can’t be”. Caught early enough your loved one can be assisted and overcome their problems. Without expensive emotional treatment. Addiction to any drug is a life long battle best won before it ever starts. Below are some warning signs of usage. This chart can also be used for persons on maintenance as well. The addict will ultimately realize themselves they have a problem but the hardest thing for them is to simply ask for help.
Signs of Drug Use

Signs of drug use can vary depending on what drug the individual is using. However there are some general signs one can evaluate if they suspect that someone they care about is using drugs.

Here are some general signs of drug use that pertain to almost every drug:

• An abrupt change in the individual’s work or school attendance, the quality of their work, how much work they produce now compared their past productionUnusual
• outbreaks of temper, sudden changes in their mood (verbally and physically abusive)
• Acting paranoid or confusedNot
• taking responsibility for their actionsA
• general, overall change in their attitudeWithdrawing
• from family and friends
• Drastic change in their physical appearance and grooming habitsAssociating
• themselves with known drug usersFrequent
• / unusual borrowing of money or always seeming to have a lot of moneyActing
• secretive about their actions and possessions

Signs of Drug Use: Alcohol

• Alcohol odor on the individual’s breath or personIntoxication
• (drunk)
• The individual has a hard time focusing and has a glazed look
• Either uncharacteristically passive behavior or combative and argumentative behaviorDeterioration
• in the individual’s personal hygieneBecoming
• dysfunctional, especially with it comes to their job performance or academicsAbsenteeismAbsenteeism
• (especially on Mondays)
• BlackoutmemoryTheirmemoryTheir
• attention is fixated on drinking at social or proccasionsTroubleionsTrouble
• with their interpersonal relationships such as marriagfriendsClumsinessDifficultyClumsinessg

Signs of Drug Use: DepressantMethaqualoneone, Valium, “Xanax” PhenobarbitaXanaxnax)

Always keep in mind, there are few easy to spot signs of depressant use. Often times use might be detected by frequent trips to the doctor for “nervousness”, “anxiety”,” stress”, etc.

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• or no facial expression animationTheireir
• personality is “flat”
• Their appearance flaccidTheyhey
• slur their speech when thtalkTheyhey
• tend to drop things or misplace things
• Forgetfulness

Signs of Drug Use: Hallucinogens (LSD, PeyotPsilocybinbin, Mushrooms, PCP)

• Pupils are extremedilatedUsersers
• skin warmHeavywarmHeavyavy
• perspiration anodorDistortionorDistortion
• of sight, touchHallucinationsDetachmentnsDetapeopleAbsorptionleAbsorption
• with self orobjectsSlurredjspeechConfusionDistorted
• ionDistorthemselvesDistortedvesDistorted
• view of time
• Changes in mood and behavior

Signs of Drug Use: Marijuana

Often it can be difficult to recognize the signs of marijuana use because most of the signs take place while the individual is under the influence. In addition, casual marijuana users may not show any of the signs listed below.

• In the early stages of intoxication the user may talk rapidly and/or loud and have flaughterIn laughterIn
• the later stages of intoxication the user may appear slestuporForgetfulnessForgetfulness
• ebloodshotGlassyseyesStrongong
• odor of marijuana on their clothing breathOftenten
• they will drive very slowly – below the spelimitTheireir
• sense of time is distorted. They tend to overestimate tiintervalsPossessionion
• of marijuana paraphernalia rolling papers, pipes abongsWeightWeightWeight
• gain or laudid

did, Methadone)

• Acting lethaorDilaudidonstrictedicted
• pupils that do notdrowsyConstrictedestedelightIfghtIf
• using heroin in powder lightIfdnessdness and raw nostrils inhalationTrackTrack
• marks on their arms inhalationTrackrrackr parts of the body indicating injecuseSlurredSspeechFrequentchFrequentdoctoruseSlurred
• speechFrequentnIncreaseonIncreasecribed pain mmedicationIncreasecribeds consentIf
• using heroin sweatingconsentIfmconsentIfughing and snifflinvomconsentIfughing of appetite

Signs of Drug Use: Stimulants (crack cocaine, cocaine, methamphetamine, crystal meth)

• Dilated pupilsDry
• mouthDmethnoseRumethnpupilsDrynmouthDruglnoseRumethnoseSinus
• rnpupilsDrylmouthDruglnoseRunnyrnoseSinusent
• tlipproblemsNoseeBleedsBadebreathFrequentfoosilickingFidgetingterestolings
• of irritabilityAcsstillNolingsepFeirritabilityActinglargumsleepFeelingsgtneirritabilityActingeargumentativeActingrnervousVerynects
• rapidlyHyperactivityEuphoria

XANAX is in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Approved by the FDA in 1981, controlled clinical trials have demonstrated that XANAX is effective in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, anxiety associated with depression, and Panic Disorder with or without agoraphobia. (Safety and effectiveness of XANAX in individuals below 18 years of age has not been established.)

Everybody experiences anxiety from time to time, perhaps when giving a speech, facing a job interview or driving along a slippery road. In cases such as these, anxiety is a useful emotion that helps us focus our attention and energy to avert any potential mishap or disaster.

Some individuals, however, experience higher than normal anxieties and fear-persistent and overwhelming feelings that can greatly impact day-to-day living. These people suffer from anxiety disorders, a group of psychiatric disorders that can be terrifying and crippling.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is one such type of anxiety disorder in which a person typically has vague feelings that something bad is going to happen. Excessive or unrealistic worries often are so persistent and uncontrollable that the individual cannot make them go away and has difficulty concentrating on daily tasks. Chronic and excessive worry for at least six months about events that are unlikely to occur is a key characteristic of this disorder.

While science has not yet identified the exact cause of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), some research suggests that biological factors, family background and life experiences are important contributors to this disorder. GAD may be triggered, or symptoms may increase in times of stress.

Biologically, it appears that emotional memories stored in specific parts of the brain may play a role in disorders involving very distinct fears, like phobias, while other parts may be involved in other forms of anxiety.

Some researchers suggest that GAD may be caused by an imbalance of specific chemicals in the brain. Three of these chemicals are called norepinephrine, GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and serotonin. It is believed that changes in the levels of these chemicals play a role in anxiety disorder.

For some people, GAD may “run in the family.” It may have been even reinforced through anxious role models while growing up. For example, these individuals might have had a parent who constantly viewed the world as an unstable and dangerous place. People coming from this background seem more likely to suffer from GAD.

Stress, whether from something tragic or something positive like a job promotion, can also trigger GAD. While stress may be a contributing factor, mental health professionals emphasize that stress is only a “catalyst.” Stress does not cause GAD. Stress seems to contribute to GAD in people who already are experiencing chronic anxiety.

Because GAD lacks some of the obvious symptoms found with other anxiety disorders, it can sometimes be hard to diagnose. There are no specific, dramatic events, such as “panic attacks,” that occur in people diagnosed with Panic Disorder.

GAD is typically described as excessive anxiety and worry, occurring more days than not for at least six months, about a number of things (such as work or school). Often the individual has difficulty controlling the worry. For example, persistent fear about danger to a child who is not in any particular danger might indicate a need for further diagnosis.