Because a person doesn’t have to drink or use drugs every day to have a problem, it’s often difficult to recognize signs and symptoms of substance abuse. This checklist of common substance abuse signs can help you determine if a member of your church is having a problem and if an intervention for rehab is needed. You may find it useful to share these signs of substance abuse with your congregation in your church bulletins and newsletters.

Please remember that if a person shows any of the following signs or symptoms it does not necessarily mean that they have a substance abuse problem. The presence of some of these symptoms could relate to stress, depression or other problems.

Physical and Behavioral Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse

Personal Symptoms

• Deteriorating personal hygiene
• Multiple physical complaints
• Accidents
• Personality and behavioral changes
• Many prescriptions for self and family
• Frequent emotional crises

Home and Family Signs

• Behavior excused by family and friends
• Drinking activities are a priority
• Arguments/violent outbursts
• Sexual problems
• Extramarital affairs
• Withdrawal from family and fragmentation of family
• Neglect of children
• Abnormal, illegal, anti-social actions of children
• Separation or divorce
• Unexplained absences from home

Medical and Physical Symptoms

• Observable decline in physical health
• Weight changes
• Pupils either dilated or constricted; face flushed/bloated
• Emergency-room treatments such as overdose, unexplained injuries, migraine headaches, auto accidents
• Claims of having been “mugged” but without witnesses
• Inability to focus and track in a conversation
• Shakiness, tremors of hands
• Slurred speech
• Unsteady gait
• Constant runny nose
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Signs Observed by Friends and Community

• Personal isolation
• Embarrassing behavior
• Driving while intoxicated
• Legal problems
• Neglect of social commitments
• Unpredictable behavior such as inappropriate spending

Clergy Recovery
The 30-Day Clergy Recovery Program includes a daily spiritual service, lectures and discussions specifically for the needs of clergy in recovery. Clergy in our rehab and recovery series will develop skills to cope with secondary trauma and perfectionism, learn practical methods of self-care and develop techniques for dealing with guilt and shame.  “Like doctors and nurses and others in the ‘helping’ professions, clergy often have unrealistic expectations of what they can do for others,” says Roger Orazio Cangialosi, M.A, C.P, director of Brighton’s new clergy rehabilitation program.  As director, Cangialosi leads groups, performs spiritual consults and is actively involved in getting the word out about the rehab program.

Serenity Prayer
Many people come to Brighton Hospital feeling controlled by their addiction and seeking recovery. As they gain control of body and spirit during their rehabilitation, the Serenity Prayer helps illustrate the entire healing process. The prayer is a guiding treatment philosophy at Brighton Hospital. A cornerstone of help and healing, the prayer can be found on displays throughout our campus.

Join Our Mailing List
Sign up for our mailing list and we will keep you informed about our upcoming events and news about our substance abuse programs and church rehab services. We will not share your information with any organization outside of Brighton Hospital.