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Signs of a Drug Problem

A drug problem can be an addiction to a legal or illegal substance. Legal substances include prescription medications, alcoholic beverages and inhalants -- while illegal substances include marijuana, cocaine and heroine. The signs and symptoms of a drug problem differ depending on the substance of the addiction. Knowing the different signs might help you identify which kind of problem you're dealing with.

  1. Physical Changes

    • The easiest way to identify a drug problem is by the consistent physical signs the drug abuser displays. His eyes may be red and bloodshot, which is common when using marijuana. Methamphetamine and cocaine users display dilated pupils, a reduction in weight due to a decrease in appetite, and they may suffer from insomnia. Drug abusers stop caring about their appearance and neglect to groom themselves. This can lead to body odors, bad breath, rotting teeth and smelly clothing. Most addictions impair your coordination and all addictions affect your brain's functioning. Some addicts manage to be functional and don't allow their physical appearance to give away their drug use -- physical signs of their drug problem may be harder to identify.

    Changes in Behavior

    • A person's behavior can also give away whether or not they have a drug problem. Drug abusers are occupied with their addiction to the point where they neglect their job or school. Their attendance and performance drops and they lose interest in their family, friends and activities. A drug problem can cause addicts to display suspicious, secretive behavior to the point where they lie, steal from family members and ultimately engage in illegal activity to get money to feed their addiction.

    Depression

    • Depression is not just a sign of a drug problem but may also be a trigger to start using drugs. Alcohol is often used by an individual suffering from depression. Using drugs to fight depression is also common. Whenever low feelings present themselves, the drug user turns to mood-altering drugs, also known as uppers, to make him feel better. He doesn't recognize that he is depressed and develops an addiction. It's a vicious cycle because stopping the use of drugs can also result in depression. Depression combined with a drug problem may ultimately lead to suicide.

    Legal Problems

    • Constant problems with the law may be due to a drug problem. A person with illegal drugs in their possession can get arrested. The behavior that these drugs bring on can also result in arrests and legal issues. Stealing for money, reckless behavior and getting into fights and altercations may all result in jail time. It's not just illegal drugs that may bring on legal troubles -- drunk driving can also do this.

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