Drug addiction can be compared to the awesome force that destroys everything in its path. Her insidious millstones grind the fate of people. Dreams of love, friendship, compassion, responsibility, a sense of duty are broken about the acute angles of addiction. It is difficult to admit to oneself that a loved one has become a victim of this disease. But it’s even harder to snatch it from the clutches of addiction. How to recognize a novice addict? Contrary to popular belief, this is quite difficult. If a person quickly retracts, the external signs of addiction are noticeable almost immediately. But, oddly enough, in most cases the patient manages to hide his secret from others for a long time.
If a person smokes weed ...
The first thing you need to pay attention to is the appearance of the person. The effect of drugs is different, so the patient looks different in each case. It is worth saying right away that some signs may be false. For example, if a person is greatly overworked, has not slept, has experienced mental trauma, then it is likely that his behavior will be different from usual. Yes, and the appearance will change significantly. Despite this, there are a number of factors that directly indicate that in front of you is an individual dependent on a harmful potion.
How to recognize a drug addict using weed? First of all, you need to pay attention to his pupils. They are greatly expanded. In addition, the whites of the eyes and lips are subject to severe redness. A dependent person is thirsty. His throat is constantly overdried, so he can often cough. Another sure sign is increased appetite. Moreover, he wakes up exactly when the action of the potion ends.
Opiate Use
These are very hard drugs. This group includes morphine and heroin. They need to be administered intravenously. If you do not know how to recognize an addict who uses opiates, pay attention to his behavior. Such a person is constantly in a drowsy state. His eyes stick together, he often yawns. Lie down and nod at the most inopportune moment for him is commonplace. For example, he can doze off during a reception or at a business meeting. Having lit a cigarette, the addict can forget about it after a few puffs. He speaks slowly, constantly stretching sounds, repeating the same words. His lips become swollen, his skin is pale. The threshold for pain in a drug addict is significantly reduced.
Admission of psychostimulants
These include cocaine, methamphetamine, amphetamine, ephedron. And if the first is presented in the form of a white powder, then the last three varieties are often available in the form of synthetic tablets. Their action is aimed at stimulating the physical forces of the body, improving morale. Therefore, how to recognize a drug addict who uses the powder, everyone will guess. Of course, such a person is characterized by increased activity, mobility. At work, he becomes very productive: he works for days on end, not knowing rest.
The synthetic "counterparts" of cocaine have a similar effect. An individual, addicted to stimulants, feels an increased sexual desire. When their action weakens, it seems empty and weak. By the way, this group also includes hallucinogenic substances. For a person taking these drugs, auditory and visual hallucinations are common. At the end of the high, the addict often falls into a psychosis or deep depression.
Hypnotics and volatiles
How to recognize a drug addict taking pills with sleeping pills? Make it easy. Pay attention to his speech: it slows down, a person confuses letters, words, phrases. His hands are shaking, his throat is tickling, motor coordination is disturbed. If the addict took sleeping pills for a long period, then he may have hallucinations. At the same time, the intake of volatile substances has a different effect. It is very similar to the alcohol effect. Behavior can be overly defiant. The patient smells of acetone, glue, gasoline. Hallucinations are another sure sign of taking these drugs.
Behavioral changes
Some symptoms may be common to all addicts. It's no secret that any addicted person often changes their mood for no reason. His emotional state is unstable: at first he cries, then laughs. Joy sharply transforms into wild irritability, and psychosis into a distant smile. Uncontrolled outbreaks of aggression - this is what should alert relatives. Another clue will be emotions, or rather, their complete absence. If before a person showed tenderness, care, affection, now these feelings are alien to him.
Do not know how to recognize a drug addict, - refer to specialized literature. It states that such a person has speech and motor retardation. He can be absolutely indifferent to what is happening around him. An individual's character changes dramatically. If earlier he was the soul of the company, now it becomes a hermit, and vice versa, closed individuals suddenly turn into a ringleader.
Circle of friends
How to recognize a drug addict? Analyze his social circle. A person who has come under the influence of addiction can, for no apparent reason, break all old connections. He has new acquaintances, often secret ones, whom he prefers to hide from prying eyes, that is, yours. Such people communicate exclusively by telephone, and if they meet, then rarely and necessarily in a secluded corner. All old hobbies and hobbies also fade into the background or completely disappear from the life of the dependent individual.
Since such substances adversely affect performance, children and adolescents can skip school, and adults can not go to the office and ignore tasks. A person often leaves home, disappearing for several days or even weeks. Sometimes he starts to steal in order to get money for the next dose. Addicted to drugs, a person does not pay attention to his family and friends, he does not care about their problems, experiences.
Health
Another important criterion that will tell you how to recognize a drug addict. Firstly, such a person significantly violates the biological rhythms of wakefulness and sleep, which cannot go unnoticed by others. During the day, such an individual can doze for many hours in a row, and at night - to wander aimlessly around the apartment.
Secondly, he eats poorly or, conversely, cannot get enough food. He is often tormented by thirst; his craving for sweets intensifies. It is not surprising that shortly after the start of taking a person’s drugs, problems with the gastrointestinal tract overtake. In addition, he is constantly harassed by a runny nose and cough, severe sweating appears. The addict's skin becomes pale and dry, the condition of nails and hair is significantly worsened.
Foreign objects
How to recognize a drug addict? Go into his room and inspect all the nooks and crannies. Strange items may appear there. For example, you can find a bottle of acetone or used syringes, dry leaves of an unknown plant or obscure powders, mechanical meat grinders or smoked tablespoons, tablets whose names you have never heard, or containers with a caustic solvent. If at least one item from this list has been discovered - immediately sound the alarm! In addition, to finally make sure that your loved one is a drug addict, buy a special test at a pharmacy. If it turns out to be positive, the individual must be immediately saved from dependence.
What to do?
How to recognize a drug addict, you now know. Remember, however, that many of the symptoms described above are indirect. They can testify to both addiction and problems in personal life. Only an experienced narcologist can make the correct diagnosis by receiving test results. When you are convinced that the suspicions are not unfounded, do not hide your head in the sand - talk to the person. Perhaps you will be able to convince him to voluntarily go to the clinic and undergo appropriate treatment.