Learning to Detect Hallucinogen Drug Users

Discovering whether a friend or a loved one has a problem with hallucinogens or any drugs is not always easy. Children as young as fourth graders sometimes begin experimenting with drugs. How can you know if friends are using LSD or PCP and what should you do to find out if they are? The following may help you decide:

People who have drug problems, most of the times try to cover it up. Some people who have difficulties in life go to drugs as a solution rather than to seek help.

There are signs that can alert us to an individual with substance abuse. If you know someone who is exhibiting any of the following behavioral changes, that person may need help:

1. Dilated pupils - this means pupils that stay much wider than usual. Of course, you would have to be familiar with this person in order to judge whether this is the usual size of this person's pupil or not.

2. Dramatic change in weight or eating habits. You have to ask yourself, is there a sudden weight gain or a sudden loss of weight.? Is there a reason for this change? If a person is binge eating or if there is a loss of appetite. This could be a reason to be alert as to what may be causing this change.

3. Does the behavior of this individual seem hyperactive to you? Is he /she talking a great deal, almost uncontrollably. Is the talking more than usual? Does it seem that this individual is having a difficult time focusing on one subject or does the conversation seem to be rattling on and on?

4. Does there seem to be a loss of coordination? Is this individual stumbling, staggering, or walking much slower than usual?

5. Is there a loss of memory or an increase in forgetfulness?

6. Is there a marked change In sleeping habits. Is this person sleeping more than usual or hardly sleeping at all?

7. Are the hands shaking or does there seem to be shaking in general? Is the heart beating too fast? You don't have to be a doctor or nurse to recognize an unusually fast heart beat.