Dealing with a problematic user is one of the hardest things for a family to do.
As there are many types of drugs people often believe they don't know enough about them and their effects. However, there are types of behavior that might indicate drug use.
- Erratic behavior, with violent mood swings, which might include depression, aggression or heightened anxiety
- Loss of balance
- Restlessness and scratching
- Slow speech, slurred speech or speaking in a garbled way
- Extreme hyperactivity; talking for long periods of time about nothing in particular
- Total inactivity; not wanting to move, or do anything at all
- Very dilated, enlarged pupils in the eye, or very small pupils
- However, there may be a reason for any of these which are not to do with drug use, they are just indicators. Another potential sign of drug use is the ‘paraphernalia' (anything that is made or used to aid taking drugs/alcohol) associated with drug/alcohol taking. Such items include
- Hand rolled cigarettes with ends made of rolled card
- Manufactured cigarettes that have had the tobacco removed – this is often a sign that of tobacco being combined with cannabis so that it can be smoked
- Rolled up banknotes, which are used to snort cocaine
- Folded and burnt tin foil; burnt or bent spoons, syringes and needles, which may have been used to take heroin or crack cocaine
- Tiny bits of Clingfilm – which are used to wrap drugs
- Pipes, plastic bottles or drinks cans pierced with holes, which can be used to smoke drugs
- Butane gas canisters and lighter fuel cans, which can be inhaled
- Traces of unusual powder or small blocks of unknown substances
- Small bottles, which may have contained Amyl-nitrate
- Empty sealable bags, often about 2 inches square
- Remember that it is difficult to prove drug/alcohol use when someone won't tell you. You may therefore want to ask a family member about their possible drug / alcohol
use. Such a conversation needs to be done carefully; imagine what the likely reaction would be if you sounded accusing or judgmental?
Things that might be helpful to do before having a conversation about drug/alcohol use:
- Inform yourself about drugs and how to talk about them
- Consider your motives and what it would mean to you if they are misusing drugs/alcohol
- Adopt an attitude of caring curiosity when having a conversation about drugs/alcohol
The source of above information is with the permission of ADFAM. For the direct link to the source of this page click on: http://www.adfam.org.uk/index.php?content=family_help&include=no
