Legacy Healing Center Blog

Learn some signs your spouse is using drugs with these tips from Legacy Healing Center.

If you are in a relationship with someone who is dealing with a substance abuse issue, you may be on the lookout of signs of drug use in your spouse.

Dating, living with, or being married to a spouse with an addiction can be a complicated venture. It isn’t uncommon for someone with an addiction to scheme and lie in order to hide his or her habits and behaviors.

If you notice signs of drug use, the situation may seem overwhelming and you may think leaving or getting a divorce is the best answer at the moment. But leaving isn’t a simple solution, especially when you have committed many years and time into your relationship, and if children are also involved.

So what happens when you begin to notice signs your spouse is using drugs, and what steps do you take from there?

First, let take a look at 6 common signs of drug use in someone.

• You may notice a change in hygiene – When someone is using drugs or alcohol, you will typically notice a change in their overall hygiene and self-care. You may notice body odor, unkempt hair, unbrushed teeth, dirty clothing, etc. It isn’t uncommon for someone in the midst of addiction to stop doing laundry, not shower as often as they used to, not brush their hair, or put makeup on, etc.

• You may pick up on strange sleep patterns – When people are in a romantic relationship and typically sleep in the same bed every night or often enough (depending on work schedules), sudden strange sleep habits can be a sign of drug use in your spouse. Often times, certain drugs will inhibit someone’s ability to fall asleep or stay asleep. Amphetamines and cocaine are two of the main drugs that will decrease the amount of sleep someone needs. In addition to noticing your spouse or partner is not sleeping enough, you may also notice irritability, and the inability to function at peak levels when it comes to work, taking care of the children, etc.

• You might witness suspicious behavior – Addiction causes people to behave differently than they would when they are sober. You may catch your spouse in lies, or making excuses for their time spent somewhere, or being very secretive with their personal belongings or where they are going. If you witness ongoing suspicious behavior, know this is a clear and common sign of drug use.

• You may see a decline in beloved hobbies – Does your spouse love to read, cook, play video games, go to the gym, or play sports? Another sign of drug use in your spouse is a sudden decline in taking part in once-beloved hobbies and extracurricular activities, as using drugs and alcohol becomes their new interest.

• You can see a decline in performance – Drugs and alcohol can take someone’s attention off of school, work, childcare, etc. If you notice your spouse is taking a lot of time off school or work, or receiving warnings from his or her teachers or employers, this may be a clear sign of drug use. Performance suffers as a physical result from the drugs and/or alcohol, lack of sleep, and also the addict’s desire to spend their time on obtaining the substance of choice and using it.

• You might find drug paraphernalia – If you are finding strange items around your house that you have never noticed before, it may be to time to consider your spouse is hiding a drug addiction. The most common drug paraphernalia include needles, small spoons, razor blades, cards, small mirrors, bongs, rolling papers, rags, and aerosol cans, tin foil and pipes.

These are just a few signs your spouse is using drugs. If you have noticed any of this behavior in your loved one, you may be wondering what you can do. Now is a great time to reach out to a drug detox and rehabilitation center where you can learn about staging an intervention and helping your loved one get into a treatment program.

At Legacy Healing Center, we have a variety of detox and rehabilitation programs that can help your loved one break free from addiction. Reach out to our addiction specialists today at 888-597-3547 to learn more.