Drug Rehab Help – How Do I Recognize the Signs of Drug Abuse?

Have you ever been concerned that someone you love might be taking drugs but have no way to verify it? Many of the effects of drugs are felt only to the user, but there are signs and symptoms noticeable to an outsider and they may be an indication that your loved one is using drugs and might need drug rehab. Here’s a list of what to look for, and what drug to suspect.

Poor memory: Although all drugs can impair memory, it is most common with marijuana, tranquilizers, designer drugs and ketamine – one of the ‘club drugs’.

Coordination problems: Also common with marijuana, tranquilizers and ketamine.

Changes in appetite: Stimulants and PCP tend to depress the appetite, while marijuana does the opposite.

Difficulty concentrating or confusion: These are also common with marijuana and tranquilizers, but opioids should also be suspected, especially if the person seems sedated and is having digestive troubles. Opioids are among the most addictive and dangerous of drugs. If you suspect opioid use, get the person into drug rehab fast.

Certain drugs manifest in ways that are somewhat unique to that drug: marijuana produces red eyes, for example, and someone using tranquilizers often seems drowsy and has slurred speech. LSD can cause tremors, someone on stimulants tends to speak much faster than normal, and stimulants also cause insomnia and weight loss. PCP can create a noticeable sense of panic, which sometimes turns to aggressive or violent behavior. Ketamine causes stomach problems such as nausea and vomiting.

If you notice any of the above symptoms in someone you care about, don’t ignore them – even if you only notice them occasionally. Occasional use can easily turn into a serious drug abuse problem, dependency, and addiction. The fact is this – if a person is taking drugs, there’s a reason for it. Unless that reason is found and addressed, there’s a good chance that the situation will get worse. Get them into a successful drug rehab program fast and you could avert disaster.

Successful drug rehab should include a good diet and exercise

Exercise and good nutrition are vital to an addict’s recovery. All drug users damage their bodies. In fact, one of the first signs of a drug problem is the person’s appearance. How bad the damage will be depends on what drugs they’re using and for how long, but drug users tend to age rapidly, and get that haggard, worn-out look often associated with drug abuse. Successful drug rehab should include a healthy diet and exercise as part of the treatment.

One of the most common reasons addicts start using drugs is low self esteem. The change in their appearance while using drugs doesn’t help a bit, and sometimes those changes can be drastic – extreme weight loss, old beyond their years, mottled or sallow, yellowed skin, muscles wasted. A good drug rehab program that incorporates a nutritious diet and an exercise plan will help the addict in more ways than one - eating well and exercising improves their overall health and stamina, makes them feel good physically, and helps restore their self-esteem by improving their appearance.

Many drug rehabs offer a small exercise room, but if exercise is not actually incorporated into the treatment plan, many addicts won’t bother with it. I always suggest to my clients that ensuring the treatment plan includes exercise and a balanced diet is the best way to go when looking for a successful drug rehab program.

Drug Rehab Must Address the Reasons the User Started Using Drugs

One of the most common questions I’ve heard from the many families I’ve helped find drug rehab programs is whether drug rehab can really help figure out why the addiction started in the first place. The answer is a resounding yes, and it’s vitally important that it does. In fact, a drug rehab that doesn’t address those issues is not likely to be successful.

I can’t stress this aspect of drug rehab enough. Many programs gloss over the past and, instead, focus on more recent events in the user’s life. This is a real disservice: if the reasons a person started using drugs are not fully addressed they will resurface later and cause the same problems all over again.

This is one of the major reasons so many of the shorter term 30-day programs don’t work. During such a short stay in treatment it is impossible to fully address those issues. Not many families can afford to get their loved one through treatment over and over again, but that’s exactly what you’re likely to be up against if you don’t choose a treatment program that gets down to the bottom of things. If someone you love is at the point of needing drug rehab, there is no question that their past has led them to this point. Get them into a successful drug rehab program that addresses these issues the first time, and you’re much less likely to have the problem recur.

Drug Rehab May Require Detox as a First Step

Although not true of all drugs, the withdrawal process for some is so severe, and potentially dangerous, that medically-supervised detox is vital as a first step to drug rehab. Heroin, methadone, alcohol and benzodiazepines such as Xanex, are good examples - about one in four people coming off these drugs are at risk of seizure or other medical complications. To avoid life-threatening situations, and help with the extreme pain one can sometimes encounter during withdrawal, I usually recommend medical detox. Some drug rehab programs offer detox as part of the treatment, but others may require patients to attend an outside medical detox facility before admission. It’s important when trying to locate a detox that you give complete information about the drugs being used so they can determine exactly what will be needed. High dosages of methadone are especially difficult to handle. However, once the detox is done, full drug rehab that gets down to the bottom of why the person started drugs in the first place can begin.

If you or someone you know needs treatment and you’re not sure if drug detox will be needed as the first step, call Addiction Help Services at 1-877-554-7308. We’ll help you determine whether detox is needed, and help you find a safe medical detox, and a successful drug rehab program.