Q: How to identify family members who are drug addicts?

ANS:

Drug abuse can be identified from the following behaviors:

1. Physical and mental aspects:

Ø  Poor consciousness: Trance, glassy-eyed, absent minded, can’t concentrate, and obvious deterioration of memory.

Ø  Gradual deterioration of health: peculiar smells from the body, emaciated, frequent yawning, physically weakening, red rash or fester appearing on the skin, and poor appetite.

Ø  Sudden change of emotions or attitude: becoming short-tempered, suspicious, will suddenly change from being excited to depressed, or will occasionally talk to himself.

Ø  Injection marks on the arm or other abnormal behaviors.

2. Living aspects:

Ø  Abnormal work and rest hours; reversed biological clock.

Ø  Frequently tells lies.

Ø  Often finds excuses for not going to work.

Ø  Becoming lazy at work.

Ø  Losing concern for surrounding people or matters.

Ø  Increased expenses, frequently asks for money or steals.

Ø  Has injection marks on the arm and wears long sleeves and pants regardless of the weather.

Ø  Doesn’t get along with family members.

Ø  Repeated meaningless actions.

Ø  Having tools or odd objects that might be for drug injection or ingestion.

Ø  Likes to stay in his room and is afraid of being asked for details.

Ø  Often says he’s sick or frequently buys medicine at the pharmacy but will intentionally hide such medicines.

3. Social aspects:

Ø  Avoiding friends.

Ø  Making strange new friends or stop contacting normal friends.

Ø  Going out more frequently and returning home late or not returning at all.

Ø  Start speaking codes on the phone.

Ø  Getting frequent calls from unknown people.

Ø  Frequently goes to arcades or places of entertainment.