A woman holding a red ribbon

11 subtle signs of substance abuse disorder

October 19, 2023 Written by Lindsay Hughes, 4-H Youth Development Agent

This month, National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, celebrates people taking steps to overcome addiction and live a healthier life. It is never too late to educate yourself, family, and friends about preventing addiction or even encouraging someone to seek treatment. The need for prevention is even greater today. 

The earlier a person starts using drugs or alcohol, the greater the risk of addiction. 

 

Watch for these signs of substance use disorder in your friends and family: 

  1. Experiencing cravings
  2. No longer engaging in activities once enjoyed
  3. Being unable to control substance use
  4. Increased tolerance to the effects of the substance
  5. Engaging in high-risk activities
  6. Attempting to stop using the substance but unable to
  7. Continuing to engage in substance use despite the negative consequences
  8. Spending large amounts of time obtaining the substance
  9. Declining work or school performance
  10. Neglecting responsibilities and obligations
  11. Experiencing withdrawal symptoms

 

Are you or is someone you know in Crisis? 

Call or text 988

 

Resources:


Related News

  • Peep into learning

    June 25, 2025 | Written by Michele Walfred
    Delaware’s 4-H Embryology Program brings baby chicks all across Delaware classrooms, libraries, afterschool programs and other locations as part of an emphasis on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). The program has delighted thousands of students for years, imprinting upon young minds a memorable experience of nature and science. The impact is powerful, reaching 42,000 participants in the past five years.
  • Lose the lawn, for Earth’s sake

    June 20, 2025 | Written By Kathleen M. Doyle Kent County Master Gardener
    Lawns are the most irrigated “crop” in the U.S, covering approximately 40 million acres of land — twice as much as our national parks. They provide no nourishment to any species (except Japanese beetles), and they degrade the soil and watershed due to their shallow roots and the chemicals property owners use to kill weeds and insects and to maintain the color. While patches of lawn are useful for children and pets, most homeowners blanket their property with turf. The impact of this monoculture of lawn devastates the environment.
  • Drought Damage, Disease, or Both?

    June 11, 2025 | Written by: Tracy Wootten, Sussex County Horticulture Agent and Jill Pollok, UD Plant Diagnostician with Delaware Cooperative Extension
    Many on Delmarva are seeing damage to trees and shrubs from the severe drought we experienced in 2024. Evergreens used for windbreaks and screening on poultry farms are no exception. Jill Pollok, University of Delaware Plant Diagnostician, shares items that we can expect in 2025 after the drought:
View all news

Events