Signs of Drug Use
Thank you for Stas Novitsky for this list. From VCAM (Virginia Center for Addiction Medicine) in Henrico County, a clinic designed to offer comprehensive addiction treatment including outpatient services.
Keep in mind that it’s a combination of many of these signs that illustrate a drug habit. This is not a complete list as substances to abuse are all over the place and around your house.
General
Missing money and jewelry.
Asking for “gas/grocery” money at unreasonable rates (going through a lot of money quickly to satisfy the drug craving and ignoring basic needs).
Eating a lot of food at odd hours of the night.
Being overly protective and not letting you see their “personal” belongings (purse, backpack, gym bag, phone or computer).
Trouble getting up in the mornings and waking up in the afternoon for a continued period.
Burn holes in clothes (cigarette holes in clothes are often the result of “the nod”).
Withdrawing from family/friends into their room/themselves.
Saying they’ll be home at a certain time and then staying out much later or not coming home at all.
Ignoring calls/texts from family—(check phone records and if you see 2–3 texts to same number then a break in communication with a follow up text or call that lasts less than a minute that’s usually a setup for a drug deal).
Weight loss/weight gain.
Dilated pupils/use of eye drops.
Multiple car accidents at odd times.
Loss of interest in hobbies.
Lack of motivation.
Truancy (stop going to school).
Missing silverware and coins.
Say they’re going to “store/restaurant” and then come back in 5–10 minutes or stay out over a reasonable amount of time.
Lack of self–care (no showering, no brushing teeth, stop taking care of themselves).
Being overly defensive of what they’re doing—“Hey what are you doing this weekend?”… “I don’t know GOD! Leave me alone”.
Being overly detailed of what they’re doing, making up stories of where they’re going.
Emotionless or overly emotional (things that used to make them happy don’t make them happy anymore, responding acutely to things that shouldn’t be of much concern).
Getting cash back on debit cards.
Overly large purchases on credit cards/debit cards at unusual places like $300 at Wawa/Walmart/Target/other stores (typically buying gift cards to pawn at other locations).
Transferring money from one account to another account.
Not shaving for a while/lack of hygiene.
Scabs and scars.
Air freshener, incense, odor spray in their room—usually to cover up smoking smells.
Detachment into room as soon as they walk into house, don’t interact with anyone unless they need food, money, etc.
Leaving house at odd hours, leaving for short bursts of time to walk down the street and back (picking up drug deliveries).
Blood on their clothes.
Screen off bedroom window for sneaking out.
Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors.
Bags under eyes.
Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination.
Mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts.
Always going somewhere at the last minute or showing up late for things despite reminders.
Dropping one group of friends from another.
Demanding more privacy—locking doors, avoiding eye contact.
Black on their teeth from smoking pills.
Runny nose in the summer time, sniffling.
Alcohol is missing from house.
Using lots of mouthwash to get rid of alcohol smell on breath.
Missing mouthwash or vanilla—products with alcohol.
Air duster cans missing—huffing.
Whipped cream is flat—addicts suck the gas from the Redi–whip can making it flat or order/buy whip.
Unexplained accidents/bruises/cuts/etc.
Unexplainable sweating.
It may be hot outside and they’re shivering or wrapped up in a sweater.
Excessive smoking of cigarettes.
Stash of plastic zip lock bags or a scale (objects use to sell marijuana to support a drug habit).
Always wanting or deal only in cash.
Seizures due to synthetic party drugs, inhalants or an overdose.
Marijuana
Missing socket wrench pieces.
Loud talking, inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness, lots of motivation.
Weight gain or weight loss.
Glassy red eyes.
Overly upbeat followed by overly anxious.
Lots of water bottles that look funky and smoky or smell funny (water bottles also used to disguise vodka).
Depressants (including Xanax, Valium, GHB)
Contracted pupils.
Drunk–like movements.
Difficulty concentrating.
Clumsiness.
Poor judgment.
Slurred speech.
Sleepiness—also called the nods (falling asleep in front of you).
Stimulants (including amphetamines, cocaine, crystal meth)
Dilated pupils.
Hyperactivity and euphoria.
Irritability and anxiety.
Excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping at odd times.
May go long periods of time without eating or sleeping.
Weight loss.
Dry mouth and nose.
If prescribed ADD meds, running out too quickly.
Inhalants (glues, aerosols, vapors)
Watery eyes.
Impaired vision, memory and thoughts.
Secretions from the nose or rashes around the nose and mouth.
Headaches and nausea.
Appearance of intoxication.
Drowsiness.
Poor muscle control.
Changes in appetite.
Anxiety.
Irritability.
Lots of cans/aerosols in the trash.
Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP).
Dilated pupils.
Bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia, aggression.
Hallucinations.
Mood swings.
Detachment from people.
Absorption with self or other objects.
Slurred speech.
Confusion.
Heroin
Additional information on heroin abuse since that was Charles’ drug of choice.
Missing spoons and pieces of tin foil.
Contracted pupils; no response of pupils to light.
Needle marks (injected and/or snorted).
Sleeping at unusual times.
Sweating.
Vomiting.
Coughing and sniffling.
Twitching.
Loss of appetite.
Really runny nose (for those who snort).
When they wake up they’re sick, when they come home they’re suddenly not “sick” anymore.
They’re throwing up inexplicably to the point you think there is a stomach disease.
Nodding off in front of you. Called “the nod”.
Cigarette holes in their clothing because of nodding off.
Long sleeves in warm weather—to cover up track marks from needles.
Unexplained weight loss.