CHAPTER 7

Checklist: Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse

1. Characteristics of Changes in Personal Habits and Activities



• Socially isolated and withdrawn.
  
  
• Alcohol/drug related consequences or problems.
  
  
• Passivity resulting from loss of energy and lack of desire to do things except "chill out."
  
  
• Privacy is sought and guarded intensely.
  
  
• Hidden drugs or alcohol are found.
  
  
• Medicine in home is missing.
  
  
• Alcohol in home is missing.
  
  
• Money of parents, siblings or co-workers is missing.
  
  
• Belongings of parents, siblings or co-workers are missing.
  
  
• Person's belongings seem to be disappearing, are lent to friends, etc.
  
  
• Loss of interest in school, job, sports or outside activities that the individual previously enjoyed.
  
  
• Changes in peers, new acquaintances, doesn't bring home friends, child begins to keep company with an older crowd.
  
  
• Chooses friends who drink or use drugs.
  
  
• Receive strange telephone calls (parties hang up or refuse to identify themselves).
  
  
• Sudden popularity (could indicate not only drug use but also possible drug dealing).
  
  
• Breaks curfew rules or sneaks out at night after curfew.
  
  
• Comes home late from work or school with no explanation.
  
  
• Tense family relationships start developing; a sense of "walking on eggshells" starts forming.
  
  
• Fails to participate in family activities.
  
  
• Becomes violent and threatening, either physically or verbally.
  
  
• Places self in dangerous situations.
  
  
• Neglect of schoolwork.
  
  
• Sleeping in school or on the job.
  
  
• Getting lower grades for no apparent reason.
  
  
• Skips work, classes or entire school days.
  
  
• Frequently disciplined or suspended in school.
  
  
• Expelled from school.
  
  
• Disrespectful of authority, such as supervisors, teachers, rules and regulations.
  
  
• Increase in use of job sick time.
  
  
• Increase in number of times late for work.
  
  
• Increase in number of on-the-job accidents.
  
  
• Increased popularity with co-workers, possibly due to dealing or sharing of drugs.
  
  
• Relationship with co-workers drastically worsens due to personality changes, unpredictable behavior and lack of motivation on the job.
  
  
• Leaving work area frequently or going to the lounge, restroom or out-of-the-way locations during break time.
  
  
• Employee visits area he has no business or reason to be near.
  
  
• Employee regularly gets visits by strangers or other employees with no legitimate reason for being in that work area.
  
  
• Secretive phone calls.
  
  
• Loss of a job.
  
  
• Managing finances poorly, spending large sums and frequently asking for money even after just receiving paycheck or allowance.
  
  
• Extensive use of profanity.
  
  
• Change in language: more slang terms or drug talk, or using slang that has no apparent meaning.
  
  
• Wearing clothes, emblems or jewelry with drug references.
  
  
• Reading drug-oriented material.
  
  
• Promiscuity; acting out sexually.
  
  
• Losing interest in church attendance or activities.
  
  
• Showing interest in the occult or devil worship (black candles, medallions, pictures or symbols representing the devil, books on black magic, etc.).
  
  
• Individual disappears for short periods of time--to the basement or the garage, for example--to get a quick high.
  
  
• Individual volunteers to do chores that he/she disliked in the past, to get privacy for a quick high. Example: a child volunteers to take the trash out.
  
  
• Sits in car or makes frequent trips in car alone (or with friends or co-workers) on a regular or unusual basis.
  
  
• Short drives alone or with friends. Volunteers to pick up needed items or do short errands involving the use of the family car--just enough time for a quick high.
  
  
• Constantly hides materials.
  
  
• Uses candles or incense.
  
  
• Extreme use of perfume, cologne, deodorant, mouthwash or room freshener to hide smell of substances.
  
  
• Bedroom is cold due to window being open even in the winter. Frequent airing out of the room. Constant use of fans to circulate air and therefore dissipate the smell of substances.
  
  
• Marijuana seeds, crack pieces, or drug paraphernalia found in the pockets of clothing.
  
  
• Increased desire for sweets.
  
  
• Increased smoking of cigarettes.
  
  
• Rapid speech, or speech that is flat, slurred and expressionless.
  
  
• Experiences hallucinations or flashbacks.
  
  
• Incoherent.
  
  
• Attempts suicide.
  
  
• Accident-prone.
  
  
• Experiences blackouts.
  
  
2. Changes in Personality
   
   
   • Depression or feelings of hopelessness and/or helplessness.
     
     
   • Different degrees of hostility or ambivalence.
     
     
   • Tunnel vision: narrow attitude on problems and solutions.
     
     
   • Inability to request or accept help.
     
     
   • Exemplifies different degrees of nervousness or anxiety.
     
     
   • Withdrawn or rebellious behavior.
     
     
   • Unwillingness to communicate.
     
     
   • Sudden general personality change.
     
     
   • Paranoia, which can include a feeling of persecution or hostility towards others.
     
     
   • Exaggerated feelings of self-confidence or growing underlying feelings of inferiority.
     
     
   • Increased hang-ups in close relationships, especially with parents or those of the opposite sex.
     
     
   • Greater impulsiveness--acting without thinking it through.
     
     
   • Total denial that drugs might be harmful.
     
     
   • Sudden mood changes.
     
     
   • Breaks promises; lies frequently.
     
     
   • Power playing and manipulation of family, friends or co-workers.
     
     
   • Priorities change.
     
     
   • Changing attitude toward straight (non-using) friends, family and rules.
     
     
   • Blames others for his/her own irresponsible actions.
     
     
   • Talks about suicide.
     
     
   • Is jittery or overactive.
     
     
   • Feelings of being picked on.
     
     
   • Non-specific, vague or evasive answers.
     
     
   • Uncomfortable talking about religion or religious beliefs.
     
     
3. Changes in Physical Appearance
   
   
   • Rapid weight loss or gain.
     
     
   • Discolored fingers.
     
     
   • Injection marks along veins, especially on arms. Many substance abusers are now injecting drugs in very unusual, more easily concealed areas, such as the thighs, on tattoos, etc.
     
     
   • Wears long sleeve shirts or high collar shirts, even on warm days.
     
     
   • Mutilates self (tattoos or burn marks).
     
     
   • Dilated pupils.
     
     
   • Displays bloodshot or glassy eyes.
     
     
   • Displays droopy eyelids or sleepy appearance.
     
     
   • Frequently wears sunglasses, or wears sunglasses at odd times.
     
     
   • Uses gum or mints to cover breath.
     
     
   • Often licks lips with tongue, or uses lip moisturizers.
     
     
   • Sensitive nose, runny nose or sores around the nostrils or mouth.
     
     
   • Health complaints such as fatigue, stomach cramps or aches, headaches or recurring colds or coughs.
     
     
   • Smells of alcohol or marijuana.
     
     
   • Experiences hangovers (headaches, nausea, vomiting, tremors etc.).
     
     
   • Frequently uses eye drops.
     
     
   • Appears pale and wan.
     
     
   • Is sloppy and unkempt, careless about personal appearance.
     
     
   • Perspires excessively.
     
     
   • Is injured from fights or falls.
     
     
   • Slow gait.
     
     
   • Poor balance.
     
     
4. Arising Legal Problems
   
   
   • Shoplifting, petty theft or grand theft.
     
     
   • Involved in car accidents or "near misses".
     
     
   • Excessive number of traffic citations.
     
     
   • Vandalizing.
     
     
   • Public intoxication.
     
     
   • DUI or DWI.
     
     
   • Prostitution.
     
     
   • Assault and related charges.
     
     
   • Breaking and entering or burglary.
     
     
   • Drug trafficking (dealing).
     
     
   • Possession of drugs.
     
     
   • Possession of drug paraphernalia or drug instruments.
     
     
   • Corrupting another with drugs.
     
     
   • Possession of counterfeit controlled substances.
     
     
   • Deception used to obtain dangerous drugs.
     
     
   • Illegal processing of drug documents (such as prescriptions).
     
     
   • Illegal dispensing of drug samples.
     
     
   • Abuses harmful intoxicants.
     
     
   • Knowingly obtains, possesses or uses a controlled substance.