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Some of these signs may be readily apparent, while others are easily hidden or occur as gradual changes. Figuring out if your child is using substances can be challenging. Many signs of drug use in teens are typical young adult behavior.

Recognizing the signs of prescription drug abuse is not only for trained professionals. Family and friends are the first line of attack against an advancing drug problem. One of the best responses to witnessing the signs is to talk to a qualified counselor about how to get help.

How can you tell if your child is using drugs or alcohol?

Long-term abuse of drugs and alcohol can result in drastic changes to physical appearance. Many drugs have appetite suppressing or other altering side effects, meaning abuse often results in visible weight changes. Once you’ve been addicted to a drug, you’re at high risk of falling back into a pattern of addiction. If you do start using the drug, it’s likely you’ll lose control over its use again — even if you’ve had treatment and you haven’t used the drug for some time. Sometimes called the “opioid epidemic,” addiction to opioid prescription pain medicines has reached an alarming rate across the United States.

While we all certainly hope that this would be true, it can very easily happen to anyone. Everyone’s bodies and brains are different, so their reactions to drugs can also be different. Some people may become addicted quickly, or it may happen over time. Whether or not someone becomes addicted depends on many factors. They include genetic, environmental, and developmental factors. The brain changes from addiction can be lasting, so drug addiction is considered a “relapsing” disease.

Physical Signs

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. After overcoming her own addiction in 2012 Julie went on to become certified as an addiction counselor in order to help others achieve a life of recovery. She worked in the addiction field for 8 years and now uses both her personal and professional experiences with addiction as an influence for her writing.

People struggling with addiction usually deny they have a problem and hesitate to seek treatment. An intervention presents a loved one with a structured opportunity to make changes before things get even worse and can motivate someone to seek or accept help. Examples include methylenedioxymethamphetamine, also called MDMA, ecstasy or molly, and gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, known as GHB. Other examples https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/who-sober-alcoholics-are-and-what-it-means-to-be-sober/ include ketamine and flunitrazepam or Rohypnol — a brand used outside the U.S. — also called roofie. These drugs are not all in the same category, but they share some similar effects and dangers, including long-term harmful effects. Stimulants include amphetamines, meth (methamphetamine), cocaine, methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta, others) and amphetamine-dextroamphetamine (Adderall XR, Mydayis).

What are some early signs of teen drug abuse and addiction?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),1 over seventy thousand individuals in the United States lost their lives due to overdose in 2017. Adolescents may have some of the most prevalent rates of substance use according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Many people struggling with an addiction have some interaction with signs of drug use the law at some point in their life. This may be because they got caught in possession of a drug, they were selling it, or they may drive while intoxicated and hurt someone. Your loved one may become defensive when asked about where they’ve been, what they’ve been doing, or who they’ve been hanging out with. They may especially become defensive if you ask them about drugs or addiction.

A common symptom of opioid abuse is “nodding off” (essentially being so tired they can barely stay awake) in unusual places at unusual times. On the other hand, stimulants such as methamphetamine use can keep someone up for days on end while it is being used and then cause a person to crash after coming down. It is not uncommon for someone who is coming off a meth binge to sleep for days on end. The complications of substance use disorder are broad and may depend on the type of substance use.

Addiction—to prescription and street drugs and alcohol —is a serious problem. If you’re worried that you or a loved one may have an addiction, there are signs to help you know. There are many well-known brands of benzodiazepines, including Xanax, Diazepam, Valium, and Klonopin. Some people have legitimate prescriptions but may have used deceptive means to get them from more than one doctor.