Substance Abuse Counselor

What are the signs of substance abuse?

* The person puts drugs above anything else in his or her life, leading to poor choices in all areas.  A person could stop performing well at work, being constantly late or not showing up at all.  Finances can take a downward spiral as the person’s money gets spent on drugs before anything else.

* A person’s personality is greatly affected. There could be nervous energy, sleeping patterns are messed up, weight loss and changes in clothing can occur.  For instance, a person who wears long sleeves in the heat of the summer may be hiding needle marks.  A person who starts suffering from nosebleeds for no apparent reason could be sniffing drugs.  A deep cough developing that does not go away could be caused by smoking drugs.

* Mood swings are common with substance abuse. The highs and lows are unmistakable.  You have never seen this person quite so excited or so depressed as you have since he or she began taking drugs.  There is no  stage in between.

* Teenagers are the ones who seem to be able to get away with hiding the signs the best. After all, puberty seems to come with moodiness, pushing limits and withdrawing on some levels from the parents.  Still, other factors are available to alert the parents.  If a student was once good in school, his grades can rapidly slip.  If he doesn’t want you to meet his friends or he has changed his group of friends, it can be a red flag.  The young person you love more than anything may even resort to stealing money or items from home to support his habit.

These are all cries for help. Recognize the signs of substance abuse so you can quickly get your loved one help before it is too late.