FACTSHEET 2

Recognising a ‘P’
user : signs and
symptoms

Short Term Use Can Result in:

• • Increase in borrowing money or trading of possessions
• • Unexplained sources of money from dealing? Stealing? Prostitution?
• • Noticeable change in values, lying, stealing, etc
• • Problems at work, withdrawal from family, friends
• • Subtle changes in conversations and behaviour with friends
• • Dry, itchy skin (a sense of bugs crawling under skin)
• • Dilated pupils, dark circles or bags under their eyes, chronic red eyes
• • Sore throat or dry cough
• • Increased sensitivity to noise and light
• • False sense of control/confidence - can lead to dangerous behaviour
• • “Wired” - Restless, excitable and anxious
• • Noticeable change in sleeping patterns
• • Weight loss (rapid, extreme)
• • Irritability or aggressiveness, drastic mood swings
• • Dizziness or confusion, disconnected chatter
• • Complaints of chest pain, rapid breathing
• • Excessive sweating and body odour
• • Bad breath, poor dental hygiene and teeth grinding
• • Hanging out with a different group of friends
• • Negative change in appearance, greasy hair, skin sores
• • Change in attire, clothes that highlight/advertise/ portray drug use
• • Noticeable mood swings, hostility or abusive behaviour
• • Chronic fatigue, loss of interest in favourite activities, hobbies, sports
• • Presence of paraphernalia (Broken light bulbs, hollowed out pens, tin foil, pop cans often with hole in the side, charred bottle tops, needles)

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