From Teens to Employees: How to Tell If People Are on Drugs

Can you detect people on drugs?

It’s every parent’s nightmare to discover their child’s drug problem. Employers also want to ensure their employees are doing their best work, free of the influence of drugs. About 10 percent of the population over the age of 12 has a problem with drug and alcohol use. This can impact friendships, relationships, and overall quality of life.

It’s not always obvious that someone has a problem. Some people have learned to hide it well. There are certain behavioral characteristics that people on drugs share. Find out what they are so you can step in and get them the help they need.

How to Tell If Someone Is on Drugs

The signs aren’t going to be obvious. The odds of someone stumbling all the time to tip you off are slim. You have to look for smaller signs that are easy to ignore.

Lack of Motivation

If someone enjoys working out and suddenly stops, it could signify something is wrong. It could be due to a schedule change, but something might be deeper.

Financial Issues

A drug problem can be costly. It can lead to people asking for money, maxing out credit cards, and stealing cash. Legal troubles also coincide with drug use.

If your child has an allowance and asks for an increase, you’ll want to keep an eye on them. You’ll also want to watch where you keep your cash in the house. If you notice something missing, see if there’s a pattern of behavior before you start making assumptions.

Isolation

Social isolation is a common sign of a drug or alcohol issue. Addicts tend to isolate themselves and exhibit unusual behaviors.

Increase in Risk-Taking

Someone on drugs may show less averse to risk. They might engage in stealing, driving under the influence, or other behaviors you may think of as stupid. That’s because inhibitions are reduced under the influence of drugs and alcohol.

Physical Changes to Note

Drug use does harm the body. These changes will show up when someone has a drug problem. The most common issues include changes in their eating habits accompanied by a dramatic change in weight (loss or gain). There are also changes in sleeping patterns, either sleeping more or less. One of the more obvious signs is in the eyes. Watery and frequently puffy eyes may be a sign of drug use.

Frequent Mood Changes

Drug use may cause various psychological changes. People on drugs may develop severe anxiety and depression. Mood swings, irritability, and feelings of euphoria are common too. You’ll want to observe the person for several days or weeks to see if they come down from their high into a depression. That’s a common trait of people on drugs.

Ignore Responsibilities

Are you dealing with an A+ student or employee who was always reliable? Did you notice a sudden shift in reliability? That can be a sign that he’s on drugs. Taking these signs individually may indicate another issue, such as stress or depression. Take all these signs together, and they may pinpoint a larger problem. People on drugs will exhibit the majority of these signs at once.

Relationship Problems

When someone is taking drugs, they will isolate themselves. They tend to cut others out. Combine that with frequent mood changes, which will harm their relationships.

How to Approach Someone on Drugs

The hardest thing about these warning signs is that they’re similar to those of anxiety or depression. The changes might also be minimal, and you may think it’s just a phase. This is the time to get involved and potentially save a life. That seems overly dramatic, but stepping in now prevents the issue from worsening.

You could start by having a conversation, keeping it calm and non-judgmental. You don’t want the conversation to escalate and the person to become defensive. Have the conversation in a private place that’s familiar to both of you. Ask questions and give them the space to talk. Let them feel safe; they need to know that they’re not in trouble and that you want to help.

You may need to have the conversation more than once. They may become defensive right away, no matter what you do. You’ll also need a support system in place. You can get the services of a therapist or reach out to a support group for help. There are also places like recovery centers that can guide you in getting the person on drugs the help they need.

If you’re unsure if your child or employee is using drugs, you can always ask them to take a drug test. You can easily get drug test kits at home or in the office. This process can add a lot of stress to your life. Make sure you take care of yourself and your needs.

It’s Possible to Help People on Drugs

Drug and alcohol use can cause a lot of damage to a person’s life. You may not be able to detect people on drugs at first, but there are common warning signs to look for. A loss of interest in regular activities and small changes in behavior can be warning signs that someone is on drugs.

If you suspect that’s the case, have a conversation with them and get them the help they need. To do more research on drugs and addiction issues, take a look at these medical sites like WebMD.


Carla Gayou
Carla Gayou

Carla is a high performing marketing professional with 5+ years of experience driving growth of in a variety of corporate and entrepreneurial environments. Strong command of digital operations with exposure to influencer marketing strategy, branding, analytics, SEO/SEM, customer success, content development, and social media Core expertise lies in managing end-to-end campaigns, creating memorable content, and facilitating improved conversion rates to enhance e-commerce operations. Adept in ensuring alignment with organizational goals, facilitating streamlined operations, and leveraging a data driven strategy used to make insightful marketing decisions.

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