Over 54 million people over the age of 12 have used drugs for non-medical reasons. It’s clear evidence that drugs are a serious problem in American culture.

They influence young adults at such a young age. What makes it worse is when it’s affecting someone you know, like a family member. Especially if it’s a family member, you wonder, “how can I help? How can I help them recover?”

You may have family friends who have drug problems. You may know adult friends who say I have a drinking problem and a drug problem. The question becomes, how do we address these concerns if they are about your friends and family or even about yourselves?

Here some ways to recognize when a family member has a drug problem.

Seeing the Signs in a Family Member

One of the signs that you can tell anyone has a drug problem, especially a family member, is if they are consistently disinterested in school-related activities or work. This doesn’t always mean someone is on drugs, but it could be a sign that someone is feeling sluggish or they need a pick-me-up, which they find in drugs.

If someone is disinterested in work, they may appear late to work. They may be receiving poor work reviews.

These are signs that a family member could be on drugs. Catching these signs early can be the best action. You can be the reason they don’t start taking more consequential and dangerous drugs.

Another sign that a family member has a drug problem is that they have a lack of control. They lack the control to only have one drink. They have a desire to have more than one drink over a period of time.

Another sign is that the family member is depression, irritability, and mood swings. It’s important to notice any change in behavior from the family member. With some drugs, their eyes may be more dilated.

Other signs and symptoms are that they may have nasal congestion, nausea, muscle twitching. This is why it’s so important to talk to the family member. To find more information about health-related articles, you can visit our website and read about how to talk to children about drugs.

You may also see signs of someone who is trying to withdraw from specific drugs. You can find more information about the signs and symptoms of cocaine withdrawal.

What Can You Do to Help?

As a family friend, you can always help someone who has a drug problem.

You can start by just talking to this family member. Talk about the problems in their life. Listen to them.

This is why intervention is important. Schedule an intervention with the person who has a drug problem. You can seek advice from doctors and physicians.

The most important action is to talk and listen to family members who you think have a drug problem. If they don’t, at least you can listen to them.

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