Drug abusers are often the last ones to recognize their own symptoms of abuse, dependence and addiction. Even when they know they have a problem, drug abusers often try to downplay their drug use and conceal their symptoms. The key to recognize this is, knowing the effects of various drugs on the brain and body, and looking for the symptoms and signs of these effects. People with drug problems may hide their drug use and deny its connection to any social, legal, and medical difficulties.

What is Drug Abuse?

It is a social evil that involves the repeated and excessive use of a drug to produce pleasure or escape reality despite its destructive effects. It occurs when a person feels the need to use a drug repeatedly for various reasons. Drug abuse is the improper administration of any chemical substance such that it produces an effect with an undesirable outcome.

Symptoms of Drug Abusing

The symptoms of abusing differ from the drug they have ingested. Different drugs produce different effects, resulting in some variations in external warning. The following are certain symptoms to look out for someone being involved in abusing the drugs and other substances.

Behavioral symptoms of drug abuse

•Angry explosions, mood swings, irritability, manic behavior, change in attitude.

•Talking incoherently or making inappropriate remarks.

•Secretive/ Suspicious behavior: frequent trips to isolated areas while using drugs.

•Deterioration of physical appearance and grooming.

•Frequent absences from work or school; drop-off in quality of work or grades.

•Neglect of family responsibilities.

•Evidence of money problems: frequent borrowing, selling possessions.

•Using drugs first thing in the morning.

•Using increasing doses of a drug.

Social symptoms of drug abuse

•Abandoning or spending less time on regular activities.

•Inability to relax or have fun without using drugs.

•Associating with known drug users and dropping friends who don’t use drugs.

•Talking about drugs all the time and encouraging others to use.

•Estrangement from old friends and loved ones

Physiological signs of drug abuse

•Frequent exhaustion or weakness.

•Unexplained injuries and infections.

•Blackouts.

•Delusions.

•Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, tremors, and sweating.

If an individual has any of the following symptoms it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are using drugs/alcohol. The presence of some of these symptoms could be related to a host of other problems.