Page 1 of 2
Drug and alcohol use and abuse are preventable
- Get educated. Know the facts. Once you do, you will realize that it is not worth endangering your career, your health, your relationships, and your future.
- Avoid peer pressure. Think ahead about how to say “NO.”
- Avoid situations where people will be drinking and using drugs. Get involved in non-drinking activities.
- Confront your problem, if you have one.
- Get help for the underlying problems of family, relationships, anxiety or depression. Educate others.
- Increased frequency of use.
- Loss of control over frequency, duration and/or amount of use.
- Drinking or using when you don’t intend to.
- Substance use interferes with life activities (i.e. school, relationships with family and friends).
- Increased spending money on substance of choice.
- Personality changes noted by self and others.
- Getting into risky/dangerous behaviors.
- Other people express concern about your use/ your behavior.
- Missing appointments.
- Legal trouble (i.e., DUI)
- loss of friends (except perhaps other alcohol and drug users).
- negative changes in appetite with possible weight loss.
- possible reduction or loss of libido (sex drive) …and/or only able to perform when using.
- extreme mood swings, including anger and depression.
- obsessions about using or procuring drug when not under the influence.
- lying about drug to use to friends and loved ones.
- loss of memory for times when under the influence.
- uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms when not using.
- involvement in crime to support habit.
- loss of energy and general health.
- you are increasingly unable to believe your own denial and excuses.
- Help clarify your pattern of abuse.
- Help identify how your life has been affected.
- Help create strategies to decrease your use.
- Help identify related issues that may contribute to your abuse.
