Signs and Symptoms -
Alcohol:
| Drinking alone or in secret |
| Not remembering conversations or commitments – sometimes referred to as “blacking out” |
| Making a ritual of having drinks before, with or after dinner and becoming annoyed when this ritual is disturbed or questioned |
| Losing interest in activities and hobbies that used to bring pleasure |
| Feeling a need to drink |
| Irritability as usual drinking time nears, especially if alcohol isn’t available |
| Keeping alcohol in unlikely places at home, at work, or in the car |
| Gulping drinks, ordering doubles, becoming intoxicated intentionally to feel good or drinking to feel “normal” |
| Having legal problems or problems with relationships, employment or finances |
| Building up a tolerance to alcohol so that you need an increasing number of drinks to feel alcohol’s effect |
| Experiencing physical withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating and shaking, if you don’t drink |
Other Drugs:
| Feeling that you need the drug regularly and, in some cases, many times a day |
| Making certain that you maintain a supply of the drug |
| Failing repeatedly in your attempts to stop using the drug |
| Doing things to obtain the drug that you normally wouldn’t do, such as stealing |
| Feeling that you need the drug to deal with your problems |
Driving or doing other activities that place you and others at risk of physical harm when you’re under the influence of the drug |
The particular signs and symptoms of drug use and dependence vary depending on the type of drug. The above information on alcohol and drug use is strictly informational in nature and not meant to determine use and/or abuse.