Signs of Drug Abuse
Users often exhibit physical signs of drug abuse. A person may notice a loved one’s eyes are glazed or bloodshot on a regular basis, or their pupils may appear constricted or dilated. Be aware that there are other causes for these symptoms, but if they are seen regularly with no other identifiable cause, you should suspect the loved one is using drugs. Any sudden weight changes may be a sign someone is using, but again may be attributed to other causes. When a person begins sleeping more than usual or doesn’t appear to need as much sleep as he or she has in the past, this may be a sign of substance abuse.
The best way to determine where the problem lies is to have this individual seen by a medical professional. Doing so can help eliminate other potential causes and determine if drugs are the problem. But be aware that certain drugs are originally prescribed for a legitimate purpose and the person becomes dependent on them and begins abusing them. The doctor will need to know about this history and why it is believed use of the prescribed medication is now of concern.