How To Do you know if someone is lying about using drugs?
If you have a loved one who is abusing drugs, this person may lie to you about where they have been and what they are doing.If you spot signs of drug addiction, you have to be willing to help your loved one get professional treatment.If you know how to tell if a loved one is lying about a drug habit, you can help them.
Step 1: There are problems at school or work.
It could include missing more work than usual, losing interest in a career, or failing grades in school.Spending too much time working can be a sign of drug use if you're missing work or school.It is not unusual for some adults to start using drugs as a way to add more awake time to the day, so suddenly working nearly non-stop can point to a substance problem.If there is a new drug problem, friends at school or work may change.Due to fear of being caught, your loved one may no longer want to see anyone.They may have become friends with people who share the same habit.It may mean there is something to hide if your loved one skips happy hour every week.
Step 2: Consider the money habits of your loved one.
It can be a sign of a problem that they are trying to hide.Even small changes like not being quite as open about money can mean there is something to hide, like a drug or alcohol issue.Changes in money habits can include a sudden use of credit cards or obtaining new lines of Credit when that was not something they did in the past.Money is being spent on things that are out of the ordinary when it comes to overdue bills.
Step 3: Look at their appearance.
Drug use may be linked to changes in the physical body and mannerism.Take a closer look at your loved one.Is something different?Losing weight, facial signs indicating lack of sleep, poor hygiene, and other changes are examples of physical changes.Depending on the drug of choice, they may suddenly seem like they have endless energy and more movement.You may start to notice the same clothes being worn for a longer period of time.If the drug use includes the use of needles, you may notice that they wear long-sleeved clothing year round to hide their arms.
Step 4: There are signs of drug addiction.
If a person has a tolerance to drugs, it may be a sign that property is being sold or traded for drugs.They may need more money to use drugs.This may include items that are easily sold missing.Pain killers, attention meds, and a variety of other drugs may be missing from the family's medicine cabinet.Drug use can be caused by major changes in sleep patterns, such as not sleeping for days on end or the reverse.Drugs can cause one to stay awake for several days at a time, and then cause a crash that causes them to sleep for days.
Step 5: Know how drugs affect behavior.
The previous steps can help you identify general changes in behavior, mood, and appearance that may point to a loved one using drugs.It is wise to be aware of the effects of drugs.Marijuana: increased appetite, euphoria, dry mouth, memory impairment, and paranoia are some of the signs and symptoms of this drug.
Step 6: The person's behavior is compared to their past behavior.
Drug use can be a sign of sudden changes in behavior.Think about how your loved one used to act.They could be using drugs.Drug use can be a sign of isolation.They may be hiding a drug problem or embarrassment due to the addiction, if they are suddenly spending a lot of time alone.Mood swings can be a sign of trouble.Mood swings can be caused by maintaining a certain level of drug or alcohol in the body.They may sweat, feel sick, have anxiety or even become depressed when the level drops below the needed supply.withdrawal from drugs can be indicated by these.It can be a sign that something else is going on if you are missing important events or just disappearing from home.
Step 7: Ask questions that are unexpected.
Lying is often practiced so they sound believable.If you want to go to the other extreme with too many details, beware of answers that are too vague.If your husband tells you he had a "stop to make" without providing any more information, that is a red flag.The same is true if he says he stopped at the grocery store and gave a ten minute description of each item he bought, who he saw or other details that don't really matter.He is overcompensating with details to cover up a lie.Listen to the answers to see if they make sense.Do you know that the stop was made on the way home from work, but there was no work today?There are no groceries at the stop.
Step 8: Look at how much the person says.
People tend to say the bare minimum when lying.The person may be lying to you if they give you a short answer.You might expect a detailed explanation if you ask, "Where were you all day yesterday?"If the person is lying, they might say something like, "At the mall."Someone who is lying may still provide few details if you challenge the person's story.A person who is telling the truth may provide a lot of details.
Step 9: Listen for more than one question.
People may repeat questions to give themselves more time to think of an answer when they are lying.This could be a sign that the person is lying about using drugs if they repeat every question you ask them."Have you been using cocaine again?" is an example.There is a chance that the person will echo this question back to you.
Step 10: The person is talking at a slow or fast pace.
People who are telling a lie may start talking slowly to give themselves time to think.People are aware that talking slowly is suspicious, so after a slow start, the person might start speaking quickly.Extra clues about whether or not the person is lying can be found by paying attention to the changes in the speech's speed.
Step 11: Consider if your loved one is hiding a drug problem.
It might be easy to lie about the drug use because they think it's just a good time.The lies may start out as a way to protect the person being lied to from worrying or overreacting since they don't see the problems associated with the drug use.
Step 12: Determine if the person thinks they're bulletproof.
Someone who abuses drugs may think they don't have to worry about the consequences.Drug users don't see the full effect the drugs have on the body and people around them.Your loved one may lie about the behavior because they don't think the consequences will be bad.The fear of getting caught buying illegal drugs, stealing to obtain drugs or taking risky chances in the name of the next high is clouded by the need for the drug.They may not see stealing to sell items to buy drugs as a crime because they are not hurting anyone.They may not consider the risks of sharing needles or having sex for drugs with other drug users as a way to get exposed to HIV or other infections.They can be shocked by the consequences of drugs use.They may not know that the strain the drug use puts on personal relationships and family bonds is something they don't understand.
Step 13: Do you allow drug use?
Ignoring a drug problem or finding a way to justify going against a gut feeling of something not being right does not help the situation.Giving your teen surplus money without knowing where it is going, bailing your spouse out of jail after being arrested, or covering for a friend who is using are all examples of this.You are almost condoning the behavior when you turn your head the other way.Do you know if your loved one has been using drugs because of your actions?
Step 14: It's normal for lies and manipulation to be part of addiction.
Being lied to didn't happen because you are a bad person or easy to trick.Drug addiction drives the need to manipulate to continue to have access to drugs, and this would be the same for any person coming into contact with the problem.It isn't something you caused or that you should ignore out of shame.