It may be impossible to face the possibility of a drug problem in your spouse, but the fact of the matter is that you may be the only hope he has. The sooner you can get him the help he needs, the less traumatic his recovery and the more likely that he can get his life back. There are a number of signs to watch for if you suspect your husband or wife has a drug problem.
Physical Signs of Drug Abuse
Unless your spouse is abusing heavy drugs like meth, he may not experience drastic physical changes at first. However, you will notice specific signs of use including:
- Weight loss
- Bloodshot eyes
- A swollen face
- Cold palms
- A cough
- A runny nose
- Slurred speech
- A change in grooming habits
- Strange smells on clothing, even when waking up in the morning
He may come up with all manner of excuses for the physical changes, and he may be very convincing. He may get angry at you for continually pointing things out. This is all typical behavior for a drug addict. You do not need to feel guilty for observing what is truly going on.
Behavioral Signs of Addiction
Behavior changes may be subtle, and they may develop over a long period of time, which can make things more difficult. You may also notice some signs during or immediately following drug use. Either scenario is legitimate. Watch for the following indications:
- An increase in making and spending more money. He may ask to borrow money and he may even begin stealing from you or other family members. He may appear obsessed over money. The truth is, his obsession lies with drugs, and money is a necessary vehicle.
- Diminishing interest in activities he used to be involved in, such as sports, housework or hobbies.
- A change in friends, especially if his new friends appear to use drugs or promote drug use.
- A change in sleep patterns, such as being unable to sleep or sleeping in later.
Mental Signs of Use
You may observe a number of changes in your spouse that indicate his head is not where it used to be. Drugs create a number of psychological changes including:
- Mood swings, such as lashing out for no reason or becoming more emotional than usual.
- Forgetfulness, such as continually losing things or forgetting appointments when this was never a problem before.
- Carelessness, such as acting insensitive or less involved.
- He may seem aloof, especially during conversations with you or other friends.
- He may have episodes of paranoia or extreme nervousness. He may even appear to be hallucinating.
Again, these signs may not be very apparent. It may be as subtle as more frequent fighting or apparent marital problems.
If you do suspect that your spouse is struggling with drug addiction, do not approach him accusatively; maintain the mindset that you are in this together, and get him the help he needs to make it through.
With those treated through Narconon many spouses say that they wished that they would have known the signs above better and acted sooner. The truth is that the longer an abuse problem goes the more severe the issue becomes. Ultimately the best weapon is being educated and then acting.
If you have a husband or wife displaying the signs above, get them help. Contact us through this site or call 800-468-6933 for more information.
Source:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/247661-signs-of-my-wifes-drug-abuse/