Department of Psychiatry

Assessment & Referral Services (ARS)

Signs that may Indicate an Addiction

  1. erratic behavior
  2. difficulty meeting responsibilities or obligations previously met
  3. money or valuables disappearing from the home
  4. pain pills disappearing
  5. hollowed out pens
  6. burn marks on the tips of pens
  7. burnt spoons
  8. changes in mood, attitude or concentration
  9. anxiety that appears unrelated to a specific event or concern
  10. withdrawal from friends, family or activities
  11. changes in physical appearance (e.g., weight loss, scabs and sores, tremors, bloodshot or glassy eyes)
  12. change in friends or spending time with friends who concern you
  13. odd sleeping patterns
  14. your instinct is telling you to be worried, even if you don't know why, and it tells you this more than once