Substance Abuse
How can you tell if someone has a problem with alcohol and drugs
To assess whether or not someone has a problem with alcohol or drugs it is important to consider answers to the following questions:
How is the alcohol or drug use affecting their life? Why are they using?
Is substance use leading to:
- Missing classes due to a hangover
- Drinking and driving
- Missing work
- Lower grades
- Poor work performance i.e., going to work high or hungover
- Neglecting obligations to family, friends, work, school, etc
- Fights or arguments under the influence
- Legal problems (public intoxication, PAULA, OWI, Possession of controlled substance)
- Depression or anxiety
- Health or medical problems
- Increased tolerance (needing to use more to get the same effects)
- Blackouts (not remembering all or part of an evening while using)
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Inability to control or cut down use
Are they using alcohol or drugs to:
- Cope with stress
- Get over a breakup
- Be able to talk to people
- Boost their self-confidence
People may exhibit a lot or a few of the above symptoms. Even individuals who use substances infrequently can have problems. Sometimes it is difficult to detect a problem because people seem to have everything together. It's also important to remember that you don't have to be an addict or alcoholic to have a problem with alcohol or drugs.
Page updated: 3/27/08
