Even when drug abuse is suspected, it is often very difficult to identify which drugs are being used, which can only be really determined through professional drug testing.
However, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has published information on the signs of drug abuse that might be useful where drug tests are not available:
Narcotics: Lethargy, drowsiness, euphoria, nausea, constipation, constricted pupils, slowed breathing
Hallucinogens: Trance-like state, excitation, euphoria, increased pulse rate, insomnia, hallucinations
Alcohol: Slurred speech, impaired judgment and motor skills, incoordination, confusion, tremors, drowsiness, agitation, nausea and vomiting, respiratory ailments, depression
Depressants: Drowsiness, confusion, incoordination, tremors, slurred speech, depressed pulse rate, shallow respiration, dilated pupils
Cocaine/Crack Cocaine: Excitability, euphoria, talkativeness, anxiety, increased pulse rate, dilated pupils, paranoia, agitation, hallucinations
Inhalants: Slurred speech, incoordination, nausea, vomiting, slowed breathing
Marijuana: Mood swings, euphoria, slow thinking and reflexes, dilated pupils, increased appetite, dryness of mouth, increased pulse rate, delusions, hallucinations
Stimulants: excitability, tremors, insomnia, sweating, dry mouth and lips, bad breath, dilated pupils, weight loss, paranoia, hallucinations
Tobacco: Smelly hair, clothes, and breath; yellowing of teeth; coughs; increased asthma attacks; shortness of breath and poorer athletic performance. After only a few weeks, users of spit tobacco can develop cracked lips, white spots, sores, and bleeding in the mouth
The DaytaTree Team
This entry was posted
on Saturday, July 14th, 2007 at 7:48 am and is filed under Drug Testing News.
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