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Psychological Symptoms of Drug Abuse

Persistent drug abuse takes a noticeable physical toll on addicts and can result in significant weight loss, skin discoloration, facial distortion and constant hand tremors. However, drug abuse also produces a host of disturbing physiological symptoms that can affect the addict's ability to maintain relationships, retain employment and function properly in society. These symptoms may disappear with sobriety; however, certain psychological symptoms may persist into sobriety, depending on the length and severity of addiction.

  1. Mental Withdrawal

    • A trademark physiological symptom of drug abuse is being mentally withdrawn. This symptom, which is commonly referred to as being "zoned out" or "spaced out," is typically associated with drugs that overload the brain by increasing dopamine levels. Marijuana, opium, heroin and prescription pain medications produce intense relaxation, numbness and out-of-body sensations in users, which results in their being not present with the active outside world. Physically, this psychological symptom can be indicated by glazed over eyes, limp bodily posture, open mouth and wandering eye gaze.

    Increased Irritability

    • Increased irritability and a quicker temper are psychological symptoms of drug abuse. Addicts who are on their way down from a drug high or are starting to feel symptoms of withdrawal between doses become easily agitated due to the lack of substance in their system. Some types of drugs make addicts extremely irritable when they are high, such as methadone, which reduces the amount of dopamine and serotonin in the brain.

    Hallucinations

    • Sensory hallucinations are psychological symptoms of drug abuse, particularly in individuals using psychotropic drugs like LSD or mescaline. They can result in the addict seeing things that are not there, smelling scents that are not present, hearing noises that aren't there, tasting imaginary substances or feeling sensations that are not real. These symptoms often combine, resulting in common hallucinations like feeling and seeing insects crawling over or under the skin or smelling and tasting food. Hallucinations may also be experienced by individuals abusing prescription medication, such as Zoloft. Long term use of drugs that elicit hallucinations can result in permanent brain damage.

    Unnatural Energy

    • An unnaturally elevated or overly energetic mood can be a symptom of abuse for addicts using certain types of street drugs or prescription medications. Cocaine, speed and ecstasy produce overwhelming and abnormal energy in addicts during the course of the drug high, which can cause them to be abnormally physically active, have racing thoughts and talk very rapidly. Some prescription drugs, such as Ritalin and Adderall, also produce similar psychological symptoms if abused.

    Paranoia

    • Some addicts may experience persistent paranoia as a psychological symptom of drug use. Marijuana is well known for inducing uncontrollable suspicion in users, particularly when laced with other substances. Paranoia often provokes other psychological symptoms, such as an obsession with conspiracies or a sense of being hunted. Addicts suffering from paranoia are also more prone to violence than other addicts as a result of their fear.

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