Entering recovery is a difficult process.

You are not alone.

Call (520) 624-5272 anytime, 24 hours a day, to find out about help for yourself or a loved one.

Compass Behvaioral Health Care provides services for a variety of substance addictions, including:

• Alcohol
• Opiates
• Cocaine
• Meth
• Amphetamines
• Marijuana
• Benzodiazepines

People with substance addictions are often the last ones to recognize their own signs-symptoms of abuse, dependence and addiction. Even when they know they have a problem, drug abusers often try to downplay their drug use and conceal their symptoms.

If you suspect that a friend or loved one is abusing drugs, there are a number of warning
signs you can look for...

SOCIAL: Signs-Symptoms of Drug Abuse and Addiction

• Changing several friends or changing peer groups
• Suddenly popular with friends who are older and unknown to family
• Becoming involved with peers when formerly isolated from peers
• More frequent phone calls
• Social activities occurring more often, sometimes at odd hours
• Thrill seeking behaviors - evidenced by law breaking, promiscuity (pregnancy) and other dangerous physical situations

• Isolation from family members (hiding in room, locking bedroom door, and avoiding family activities)
• Exhibiting negative attitude toward rules and parents
• Failing to follow through on promises
• Sneaking out of the house
• Becoming manipulative
• Lying

• Lacking motivation and lower grades
• Sleeping in class
• Skipping class or school
• Dropping out of school activities
• Becoming disrespectful of teachers, administrators, and rules
• Frequently being disciplined
• Suspended or Expelled

PHYSICAL: Signs-Symptoms of Drug Abuse and Addiction

• Smelling of alcohol, marijuana, or stale smoke
• Frequent minor illnesses (headaches, nausea, slight tremors, flu-like symptoms, vomiting, sluggishness)
• Neglects taking prescribed medications or takes more medications than usual
• Memory lapses
• Weight changes or unusual eating patterns (types of foods, amounts, time of day)
• Frequent use of eye drops for bloodshot eyes
• Change in normal sleep patterns (frequent naps)
• Injuries occurring more often
• Frequent infections or infections which don't heal
• More frequent complaints of pain or illness

• Shoplifting or stealing from family members
• Unruly behaviors like skipping school and not following family rules
• Incidents or charges for public intoxication, DUI, vandalism, breaking and entering, underage alcohol/tobacco use
• Involved in car accidents or near misses
• Selling drugs

• Impaired judgment (putting self in dangerous situations)
• Talking about or attempting suicide
• Violent or threatening (verbally or physically)
• Lethargic or apathetic
• Mood swings
• Burned Out
• Operating at an inappropriate maturity level

• Poor management of money
• Spending large sums of money and asking for money
• Having drug paraphernalia in bedroom or school locker
• Reading drug oriented magazines
• Wearing drug oriented clothing and accessories
• Using drug slang, talking about drugs

Many people who don't think of themselves as drug abusers can become dependent on chemical substances, either legal or illegal. A common thread that runs through all drug abusers is loss of control.

In addition to lifestyle changes, drug abuse can have serious short-term and long-term medical effects, such as;

• Dangerous heart rate increase and/or blood pressure
• Hepatitis or AIDS through shared needles
• Sleeplessness and tremors
• Liver, lung, and kidney impairment
• Sudden death (from misuse of inhalants, heart attack or stroke)

If you feel that many of these signs and symptoms may apply to you, please call to speak with one of our resource specialists today.

Compass Behavioral Health Care | 2475 N. Jackrabbit Ave. Tucson, AZ 85745 | (520) 882-5608 | infochc@compasshc.org