What are the signs and effects of substance abuse?
• Signs • Effects • Effects by Type Signs No one sign of substance abuse is definitive. Other personal problems have effects that can mimic the signs of substance abuse. A solid determination requires many of the signs to be present. Also, the signs of substance abuse in adults are somewhat different from the signs among young people because adults’ bodies are different, and adults have different drug choices, lifestyles, and life experiences. Even so, the signs of substance abuse are pretty similar among all people who are steady users and/or chemically dependent. In general, persons who are habitual abusers of alcohol or other drugs show decreasing patterns of seriousness about their work or school performance, and their attitude and behavior towards old friends and relations deteriorate over time. They may start to dress and act differently, and their choice of companions worsens. The following signs point to a problem that may involve alcohol and/or other drugs; the items in the fi
