There are currently over 22 million Americans suffering from addiction, and there is always help available. Here are ways how to tell if someone is on drugs.
According to the office of the United States surgeon general, 1 out of every 7 people will face some kind of addiction problem in their lifetime. That’s 45.5 million people.
Given the volume of people who struggle with addiction in America, there’s a good chance that somebody you know could be dealing with substance abuse issues. How can you know for sure though?
While there’s no sure-fire way to know if somebody you love is struggling with addiction, there are some signs you can watch out for that can help you decide whether or not it’s time to have a serious conversation.
Below are some tips on how to tell if someone is on drugs.
1. Unexplained Financial Trouble
If a person who has access to enough money to sustain their lifestyle is always on the verge of being broke, drugs could be the culprit.
The cost of many drugs is immense no matter where you live. Even if certain drugs are relatively cheap, the frequency in which addicts need to use make things pricey.
Never give money to a person who you suspect is feeding an addiction.
2. Lack of Interest
If somebody you know used to enjoy hobbies and now seems to be disinterested in everything, you may want to dig deeper.
Drug abuse has a way of taking over a person’s life so that they can’t focus on anything beyond when they’ll get their next fix. That coupled with the depression that often comes with drug use could be at fault for sudden shifts in interests.
3. Neglecting Self-Care
Again, drug use can be consuming. This consumption often leads to people not paying attention to self-care.
Lack of self-care could mean not getting haircuts, not bathing or neglect of other basic hygiene principals.
4. New Group of Friends
One of the best ways how to tell if someone is on drugs is to examine the people they surround themselves with. Drug users often look for reassurance in their risky behaviors by surrounding themselves with other drug users.
For that reason, if you notice that your loved one has suddenly taken on a new, less-desirable social circle, you’ll want to investigate.
Consider asking your loved one’s old friends why they don’t come around anymore. They may be able to clue you in as to whether or not drugs are at fault.
5. Over Defensiveness
At the end of the day, there’s no better way how to tell if someone is on drugs than to just ask them. When you do this, don’t come at the conversation from a combative angle, come at the conversation from an angle of love and support.
If someone really isn’t on drugs and has nothing to hide, you’ll typically be able to tell in the way they react to your bringing the topic up. If they’re overly defensive when you mention things like rehab, they may be trying to cover something up.
Learn your options when it comes to rehab and how to frame intervention conversations.
Wrapping Up How to Tell If Someone Is on Drugs
Above are 5 methods on how to tell if someone is on drugs. I recommend leveraging as many of my tips as possible to deduce whether or not a serious conversation is warranted with the person you love.
Remember, the longer you wait to help a loved one, the higher risk they are at of dying from their addiction. Be proactive and save a life by intervening today.
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