Getting Help
Signs of Possible Substance Abuse
- Giving up past activities such as sports, homework, or hanging out with friends
- Declining grades
- Aggressiveness and irritability, feeling run down, hopeless, depressed, or even suicidal
- Paraphernalia such as baggies, small boxes, pipes, and rolling paper
- Getting drunk or high on drugs on a regular basis
- Lying, particularly about using alcohol or other drugs
- Avoiding friends or family to get drunk or high
- Planning drinking in advance, hiding alcohol or drinking, or using other drugs alone
- Having to drink more to get the same high
- Believing you need to drink or use other drugs to have fun
- Frequent hangovers
- Pressuring others to drink or use other drugs
- Taking risks, including sexual risks
- Having “blackouts” (forgetting what you did the night before)
- Constantly talking about drinking or using other drugs
- Getting in trouble with the law
- Drinking and driving
- Suspension from school or work
Holidays and weekends are often full of fun activities. But they can also be dangerous. When planning and enjoying your after-hours activities:
- remember the effects of alcohol or prescription drugs
- identify the risks associated with impairment while participating
- make responsible decisions
Last Updated 12/21/2022