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General Guidelines

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR IDENTIFYING PEOPLE WHO MAY BE AFFECTED BY ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUG USE 1

  • LOOK FOR CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR, ATTITUDE, OR APPEARANCE
  • IDENTIFY BEHAVIOR WHICH DOESN’T SEEM RIGHT
    • Individual cannot stay awake
    • Is unable to sit still
    • Is disoriented or confused for no apparent reason
    • Laughs or cries at inappropriate times
    • Displays rapid shifts in mood
    • Slurs speech
    • Speech is rapid and loud, and it is difficult to follow person’s train of thought
  • DO NOT AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME BEHAVIOR IS CAUSED BY ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUG USE. RULE OUT OTHER CAUSES FIRST.
    • Individual is physically ill (e.g., flu)
    • Is upset about some obvious problem (e.g., has been victimized by sexual partner or other person; is concerned about son’s gang involvement)
    • Person’s physician has recently prescribed new medication, particularly for psychiatric reasons
    • Person has a developmental or neurological disorder
  • DO NOT ARGUE WITH PEOPLE YOU PROVIDE SERVICES FOR REGARDING THEIR USE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS

Common Signs/Symptoms of the Five Basic Abused Substances

1Adapted from: Domestic Violence/Substance Abuse Interdisciplinary Task Force, IL DHS (7/2000). Safety & Sobriety: Best Practices in DV & SA.