How To Tell If Drug Intervention Is Necessary?

Few things can leave people as worried as feeling they might need to conduct a drug intervention with someone they care about. Most folks don't want to go down that path unless they're sure it's necessary. How can you tell, though?

Financial Difficulty

Drugs tend to cost a good bit of money, and that change in financial priorities often creates major instability. If someone used to be very good at paying their bills on time and is suddenly getting shut-off notices and asking you for money, something may be up. That is especially true if their life circumstances, such as their job and the cost of their home, haven't changed much.

Notably, this isn't always a surefire sign someone does or doesn't have a substance use disorder. Some people have high-function relationships with drugs, meaning they may just work harder to get the needed money. Also, a person could be facing other financial issues. Look at other factors on this list for further evidence.

Reduced Attention to Appearance

Some drugs reduce a person's attention to their appearance. This can happen because certain drugs rewire the brain's reward pathways. Consequently, the person may no longer seek validation through their appearance. Instead, they might favor the boost their drug of choice provides.

If a person exhibits a decline in attending to their appearance, you may want to look closer at what's going on. Even if drugs aren't the issue, they could be dealing with another mental health concern, such as depression.

Unplugging from Family or Friends

Most people don't let go of family members or friends easily. However, they may do so if they've developed drug problems. Sometimes this happens because they simply spend more time with other people who have similar attitudes toward drugs. In other cases, they may end up in conflicts with family and friends because of altered moods. Also, some people lash out when others express concerns about substance abuse.

Declining Interest in Hobbies or Work

A person typically has something that interests or motivates them in life. Their interests may not make sense to you, but those interests should be present. If someone used to do lots of craft projects for decades, for example, you don't expect them to quickly give up on crafting.

Oftentimes, drugs end up filling the role that previous activities or work did. If you see this happen, it may be time for drug intervention. Once more, even if the problem isn't drug-related, there may be some other worrying thing going on.