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SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL AND/OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Addictions
are diagnosed based primarily on the severity of a patient's drug
or alcohol problems. Milder cases of addiction are termed "Substance
Abuse", while more severe cases are termed, "Substance
Dependence". Most of the time, people who have an addiction
are blind to it, or in denial about it. They will not or cannot
see the extent of the problems they are experiencing. Because
of this denial, addictions cannot be self-diagnosed. An objective
appraisal of a person's alcohol or drug use, and the problems
a person is experiencing due to their substance use must be made
by an experienced clinician before any diagnosis can be made.
If any of the following apply to you or to a loved one, call our
Clinic at 716-373-4303 to set up an appointment to find out how
to get help.
Some problem
behaviors that may be signs of alcohol or substance abuse
include:
- Failure
to fulfill major role obligations at work, school or home (repeated
absences or poor work performance related to substance use;
substance related absences, suspensions, or expulsions from
school, neglect of children or household).
- Bizarre
or lame excuses for social, occupational or family failures.
- Borrowing
(or stealing) money without good reasons.
- Uncharacteristic
mood or personality changes.
- Recurrent
alcohol or substance use in situations in which it is physically
hazardous (driving while impaired, operating machinery while
impaired).
- Recurrent
alcohol or substance-related legal problems (arrests for alcohol
or substance-related disorderly conduct).
- Continued
alcohol or substance use despite having persistent recurrent
or recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated
by the effects of alcohol or substance use
(arguments with spouse about consequences of intoxication, physical
fights).
Some physical
signs of alcohol or substance abuse include:
- Puncture
marks, or long thin lines along the arms or legs (IV drug use
such as heroin).
- Nose and
throat problems (snorted drugs such as cocaine).
- Bloody
nose.
- Nasal and/or
sinus infections.
- Coughing.
- Loss of
the sense of smell.
- Drowsiness
or loss or coordination (depressant
drugs such as alcohol, Benzodiazepines or Barbiturates).
- “Pinned”
(tiny, constricted) pupils in the eye (secondary to opioid abuse).
- Disturbances
in eye movement.
- Back and
forth eye movements during an extreme lateral gaze (secondary
to alcohol abuse).
- Red or
bloodshot eyes (secondary to smoking marijuana).
- Drug-related
paraphernalia
(pipes, pill bottles, small plastic bags or vials, lighters,
alligator clips, etc.).
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