Signs of Drug and Alcohol Abuse or Addiction

Warning Signs of Alcoholism

Need a drink to relieve stress
Quickly drinks or gulps down several drinks to "loosen up"
Availability and consumption of alcohol becomes the focus of social or professional activities
Individual becomes erratic, temperamental, irritable, difficult to get along with
Misses deadlines
Chronic lateness
Quality of work deteriorates
Quality of presentations deteriorates
Poor business judgment
Trouble making decisions
Misses work on Mondays and Fridays
Frequent medical leaves of several days duration
Missing during the middle of the workday
Odor of alcohol when around individual, especially on breath
Shakiness, trembling hands in the morning
Frequent trips to hospitals, medical providers
Increase or decrease in weight
Changes in skin appearance, including flushed skin on nose and cheeks
Repeated injuries, bruises, cuts & scrapes, limpin
Repeated complaints of fatigue, lack of energy, inability to concentrate, headache
General "run down" appearance
Legal difficulties

Warning Signs of Substance Abuse and Drug Addiction

Appears intoxicated or hung over
Deterioration of physical appearance and grooming
Shakiness, tremulousness
Unpredictability, strange behavior, inappropriate behavior
Withdrawal from responsibility
General changes in overall attitude
Overwhelmed easily, inability to control emotions, extreme emotions, overreacting
Aggressivity or social withdrawl
Forgetfulness, reduced concentration, shorter attention span, "blanked spots" for memory
Loses sense of humor, misinterprets situations, loses sense of perspective
Becomes suspicious and distrustful
Loses touch with reality at times
Loss of mental sharpness, creativity, business acumen
Indecisiveness confusion
Changes in weight
Frequent medical visits
Frequent absence and inability to account for whereabouts during work day, misses deadlines, appointments
Legal, family, social, medical problems

Stimulants

Stimulants include hallucinogens, "club drugs." amphetamines, methamphetamine, crystal meth, desoxyephedrine, pseudoephedrine, cocaine, crack, freebase, ecstacy, MDMA, ketamine, LSD, acid, magic mushrooms, psilocybian, nicotine, cigarettes, etc:

Dry mouth and nose, bad breath, frequent lip licking, teeth grinding, body tremors
Excessive activity, difficulty sitting still, lack of interest in food or sleep
Irritable, argumentative, nervous, extreme moodiness
Talkative, excited speech and incessant talking but conversation often lacks continuity; changes subjects rapidly, "Grabs spotlight" during presentations, meetings
Runny nose, cold or chronic sinus infections, nose bleeds
Use or possession of paraphernalia including small spoons, razor blades, mirror, little bottles of white powder and plastic, glass or metal straws
Euphoria, expansive mood
Chronic financial difficulties in spite of more than adequate compensation
Progressivelyviolent or aggressive behavior, temper tantrums
Increased physical or sexual activity
False sense of confidence and power
Purposeless, repetitious behavior
Compulsive cleaning, grooming, sorting, disassembling

Depressants

Depressants, barbituates and muscle relaxants, ativan, lorazepam, codeine etc:

Behaves as if drunk with no alcohol odor on breath (slurred speech, stumbling walk, drooping eyes, etc.)
Lack of facial expression or animation
Flat affect
Flaccid appearance
Slurred speech

Opiates

Opiates, opioids and prescription painkillers (i.e. "scrips"), morphine, heroin, vicodan, lotab, hydrocodone, suboxone, buprenorphine, oxycontin, oxycodone, naloxone, darvocet, codeine, norco, hydrocodone, coricidin:

Euphoria, tranquility, apathy, and impaired judgment. (Although the initial effects are generally calming or dulling, psychomotor agitation and aggressiveness can occur)
Excessively active, frantic or lethargic, drowsy, nods off during meetings
Slow breathing
Pale and sweaty or extremely thirsty
Small pupils
Nausea
Frequent itching and scratching
Red and raw nostrils; symtom of sniffing
Wears long sleeves even when not appropriate to hide injecting

Are you or someone else you care about is abusing or addicted to drugs and, or, alcohol, there is better way... 866-323-5612. Call free and start a new, clean and sober life.

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