Facts
About…
Warning Signs of Alcohol and
Other Drugs AbuseTable of Contents
1.) General Signs of Alcohol and Other Drug
Abuse
2.) Signs of Alcohol Abuse
3.) Signs of Cocaine Abuse
4.) Signs of Depressants Abuse
5.) Signs of Hallucinogens Abuse
6.) Signs of Marijuana Abuse
7.) Signs of Narcotics Abuse
8.) Sign of Stimulants Abuse
General Signs of Alcohol and
Other Drug Abuse
Pathfinder’s
Checklist
General signs of alcohol and other drug abuse.
1.) Abrupt changes in
work or school attendance, quality of work, grades, discipline
2.) Unusual flare-ups or outbreaks of temper
3.) Withdrawal from responsibility
4.) General changes in overall attitude
5.) Deterioration of physical appearance and grooming
6.) Wearing of sunglasses at inappropriate times
7.) Continual wearing of long-sleeved garments particularly in hot weather
8.) Association with known substance abusers
9.) Unusual borrowing of money from friends, co-workers or parents
10.) Stealing small items from employer, home or school
11.) Secretive behavior regarding actions and possessions; poorly concealed attempts to
avoid suspicion such as frequent trips to storage rooms, restroom, basement
Signs
of Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol
is a depressant that decreases the responses of the central nervous system. Excessive
drinking can cause liver damage and psychotic behavior. As little as two beers or drinks
can impair coordination and thinking. Alcohol is often used by substance abusers to
enhance the effects of other drugs. Alcohol continues to be the most frequently abused
substance among young adults.
Alcohol abuse is
described as any harmful use of alcohol. Alcohol abusers drink despite recurrent social,
interpersonal, and legal problems caused by alcohol use. Typically, those drinkers who are
diagnosed as only alcohol abusers can be helped with a brief intervention, including
education concerning the dangers of binge drinking and alcohol poisoning. Those who have
become alcohol dependent generally require outside help to stop drinking, which could
include detoxification, medical treatment, counseling or self-help group support. Those
who are alcohol dependent meet all of the criteria of alcohol abuse, but they will also
exhibit some or all of the following:
Pathfinder’s
Checklist
Signs of alcohol abuse.
1.) Narrowing of the
drinking repertoire (drinking only one brand or type of alcoholic beverage)
2.) Drink-seeking behavior (only going to social events that will include drinking, or
only hanging out with others who drink)
3.) Alcohol tolerance (having to drink increasing amounts to achieve previous effects)
4.) Withdrawal symptoms (getting physical symptoms after going a short period without
drinking)
5.) Drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms (such as drinking to stop the shakes
or to cure a hangover)
6.) Subjective awareness of the craving for alcohol (whether they admit it to others or
not)
7.) A return to drinking after a period of abstinence (deciding to quit drinking and not
being able to follow through)
Signs of Cocaine Abuse
A cocaine high lasts only about 5 to 20 minutes.
Cocaine use may cause severe mood swings and irritability. You need more and more
cocaine each time you want a "high. Cocaine increases your blood pressure and heart
rate—particularly dangerous if you have a heart condition. One use can cause death!
Possession and use are illegal and can result in fines and arrest.
Crack cocaine is almost instantly addictive. One use could
cause a fatal heart attack.
Repeated use may cause insomnia, hallucinations, seizures, paranoia. The euphoric effects
of crack last only a few minutes. Crack possession and use are illegal in all fifty
states. There are more hospitalizations per year resulting from crack and
cocaine use than any other illicit substance.
Pathfinder’s Checklist
Signs of cocaine abuse.
1.) Dilated pupils
(when large amounts are taken)
2.) Dry mouth and nose, bad breath, frequent lip licking
3.) Excessive activity, difficulty sitting still, lack of interest in food or sleep
4.) Irritable, argumentative, nervous
5.) Talkative, but conversation often lacks continuity; changes subjects rapidly
6.) Runny nose, cold or chronic sinus/nasal problems, nose bleeds
7.) Use or possession of paraphernalia including small spoons, razor blades, mirror,
little bottles of white powder and plastic, glass or metal straws.
Depressants minimize
the activities of the central nervous system. They fall into three categories: hypnotics
which induce sleep; sedatives which do not induce sleep but produce a relaxing effect to
help one fall asleep, and tranquilizers which are used to alleviate anxiety, tension, and
relax muscles.
The effects of
depressants are similar to alcohol and also have a high potential for dependency. The
abuser can develop a high tolerance that creates the need for escalating dosages to
maintain the desired high. The withdrawal from depressants, especially barbiturates, is
very hazardous and potentially lethal, sometimes taking from five to eight days. These
withdrawal effects include delirium, hallucinations, anxiety, tremors, weakness, abdominal
cramps, nausea, delirium, spatial and time disorientation, seizures, respiratory failure,
heart failure, and possibly death.
Pathfinder’s
Checklist
Signs of depressant abuse.
1.) Symptoms of
alcohol intoxication with no alcohol odor on breath (depressants are also frequently used
with alcohol)
2.) Lack of facial expression or animation
3.) Flat affect
4.) Flaccid appearance
5.) Slurred speech
One use of LSD or PCP can cause
multiple and dramatic behavioral changes. Large doses of hallucinogens may cause
convulsions, ruptured blood vessels in the brain and irreversible brain damage. Many
hallucinogens cause unpleasant and potentially dangerous flashbacks, long after the drug
was used. Most hallucinogens cause hallucinations, i.e., changes in perception of
time, smell, touch, etc.
With the exception of
PCP, all hallucinogens seem to share common effects of use. Any portion of sensory
perceptions may be altered to varying degrees. Synesthesia, or the seeing of
sounds, and the "hearing" of colors, is a common side effect of hallucinogen
use. Depersonalization, acute anxiety, and acute depression resulting in suicide have also
been noted as a result of hallucinogen use.
Pathfinder’s
Checklist
Signs of hallucinogen abuse.
1.) Extremely dilated
pupils
2.) Warm skin, excessive perspiration and body odor
3.) Distorted senses of sight, hearing, touch; distorted image of self and time perception
4.) Mood and behavior changes, the extent depending on emotional state of the user and
environmental conditions
5.) Unpredictable flashback episodes even long after withdrawal (although these are rare)
Marijuana may cause impaired
short-term memory, a shortened attention span and delayed reflexes. During pregnancy,
marijuana may cause birth defects. Marijuana may cause a fast heart rate and pulse.
Repeated use of marijuana may cause breathing problems. Possession of marijuana is illegal
in all fifty states. Marijuana may cause relaxed inhibitions, disoriented behavior.
Marijuana users are
difficult to recognize unless they are under the influence of the drug at the time of
observation. Casual users may show none of the general symptoms. Marijuana does have a
distinct odor and may be the same color or a bit greener than tobacco.
Pathfinder’s
Checklist
Signs of marijuana abuse.
1.) Loud talking and
bursts of laughter in early stages of intoxication
2.) Sleepy or stuporous in the later stages
3.) Forgetfulness in conversation
4.) Inflammation in whites of eyes; pupils unlikely to be dilated
5.) Odor similar to burnt rope on clothing or breath
6.) Tendency to drive slowly - below speed limit
7.) Distorted sense of time passage - tendency to overestimate time intervals
8.) Use or possession of paraphernalia including roach clip, packs of rolling papers,
pipes or bongs
Signs of Narcotics Abuse
Pathfinder’s
Checklist
Signs of narcotics abuse.
1.) Lethargy,
drowsiness
2.) Constricted pupils fail to respond to light
3.) Redness and raw nostrils from inhaling heroin in power form
4.) Scars (tracks) on inner arms or other parts of body, from needle injections
5.) Use or possession of paraphernalia, including syringes, bent spoons, bottle caps,
eyedroppers, rubber tubing, cotton and needles
6.) Slurred speech
Stimulants, such as
Ice, Meth, Crystal, Crank, and/or Methamphetamine, are extremely addictive—sometimes
with just one use! These stimulants can cause convulsions, heart irregularities, high
blood pressure, depression, restlessness, tremors, severe fatigue. An overdose can cause
coma and death. When you stop using stimulants you may experience a deep depression. These
stimulants causes a very jittery high, along with anxiety, insomnia, sometimes paranoia.
Pathfinder’s
Checklist
Signs of stimulant abuse.
1.) Dilated pupils
(when large amounts are taken)
2.) Dry mouth and nose, bad breath, frequent lip licking
3.) Excessive activity, difficulty sitting still, lack of interest in food or sleep
4.) Irritable, argumentative, nervous
5.) Talkative, but conversation often lacks continuity; changes subjects rapidly
6.) Runny nose, cold or chronic sinus/nasal problems, nose bleeds
7.) Use or possession of paraphernalia including small spoons, razor blades, mirror,
little bottles of white powder and plastic, glass or metal straws.
G.B.U.
Steve
Recover from
chemical dependency as well as its toxic impact on family members. Raise your
children to choose to be alcohol and other drugs
free. Learn how
to in Dr. Frisch’s, Psy.D. Recovery book series—From Insanity to Serenity.
|
