Risk Factors for Chemical Health Issues
Chemical health issues cut across the board in regards to gender, race, age, geographic location and socio-economic status. They don’t discriminate. However, there are risk factors that can increase the risk of alcohol and drug use.
Watch for these signs, and, if necessary, intervene. Education, counseling, assistance and supports can be put into place before problems begin.
Risk factors include, but are not limited to:
- Acquiring a disability
- Unemployment or under employment
- Poverty
- Peer pressure
- Cultural
- Homelessness
- A history of abuse issues
- A family history of chemical dependency issues
- Distorted body image
- Loss of job, family, divorce
- Isolation and loneliness
- Physical limitations
- Lack of transportation
- Spending a large percentage of income of disability related needs (such as medications, transportation, equipment)
- Chronic pain
- A history of or current depression, anxiety or other mental illness
- Low self-esteem and/or lack of assertiveness
- Boredom
- Desire to “belong”
- Poor anger management skills
- Difficulty adjusting to change
Identifying Specific Chemical Use
Alcohol: Clumsiness, difficult walking, slurred speech, sleepiness, poor judgment, dilated pupils, odor.
Cocaine: Same as listed in stimulants with high blood pressure, increased self- confidence, inability to sleep, delusional, paranoia, burns on face/mouth, increased depression later, when drug wears off.
Depressants: Appearance of drunkenness, but without the associated odor of alcohol, difficulty concentrating, clumsiness, poor judgment, slurred speech, sleepiness and contracted pupils.
Ecstasy (MDMA): Similar to stimulants, with increased anxiety, mood swings, nausea, sweating, loss of appetite, vomiting, tremors, high body temperature, headache, fainting.
Hallucinogens: Dilated pupils, bizarre and irrational behavior, paranoia, aggression, hallucinations, confusion, slurred speech, detachment from people, mood swings, absorption with self or other objects.
Heroin: Needle marks, sleeping at unusual times, vomiting, sweating, coughing and sniffing, twitching, loss of appetite, contracted pupils, pupils do not react to light
Inhalants: Watery eyes, impaired vision, memory issues, secretions and/or rashes around the mouth and nose, headaches, nausea, appearance of intoxication, drowsiness, poor muscle control, changes in appetite, anxiety and irritability.
Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes, loud talking and inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness, a sweet burnt smell on person, loss of interest and motivation, weight changes.
Methamphetamine: Similar to stimulants, with mood swings from happy to irritated, violence, paranoia, depression, vomiting, picking at imaginary things such as bugs under the skin, high blood pressure, chemical smell.
Stimulants: Hyperactivity, euphoria, irritability, excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping at odd times, may go long periods of time without eating or sleeping, dilated pupils, weight loss, dry mouth and nose.