What are the signs of drug taking?
Click on the links below to access information and guidance on drugs misuse.
What are the signs of drug taking?
It is often difficult to tell if someone is using drugs as different people react to substances in different ways. However, common signs of drug use are:
- Sudden mood swings
- Abnormal sleep patters or insomnia
- Drowsiness
- Lack of concentration
- Loss of appetite, weight loss
- Secretiveness about activities and whereabouts
- Loss of interest in old friends, school/college work, hobbies
- A change of friends
- Lying and deceitfulness
- Stealing money or goods
- Borrowing money
- Appearing drunk or ‘stoned’
- Unusual smells, stains or marks on the body or clothes
- Needle marks and unexplained bruises
How can you recognise the drugs?
The only sure way to identify an illegal substance is by forensic analysis. However, there are some signs, which may indicate that drugs are present. Images and information about different drugs can be found on this web site.
- Unusual powders, tablets, capsules or liquids in small quantities
- Herbal substances or solid crumbly brown resin
- Small plastic or elaborately folded paper wraps
- Needles and syringes
- Scorched tin-foil or spoons
- Shredded cigarettes
- Strong, sickly sweet, smoky smell
- Weighing scales
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