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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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How To Identify Smoking And Drug Addiction In Person?

I think my son in law is drinking and taking drugs a lot, but I am worried about asking him about it. sometimes when I see him I am worried because he acts strangely and I don t know if I should let him be alone with the children who are in my care. what sort of things could I observe about him without questioning him?
Mon, 27 Oct 2014
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Addiction Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
ok... first drug addiction and child safety have nothing in common. over 1% of the population have problems in alcohol and drugs each and very few of these people are a danger to children. Contrarily, all of the most famous child murderers/abusers in the US were free of addiction. Separate issues.
First, telling if someone is a drug addict. In the early stages of addiction trouble with spouse is a very good indicator. If you don't know they are having marital problems.. if it isn't very very obvious, this would eliminate over half of those with drug or alcohol problems... it is a bit UNLIKELY. If they are having marital problems, then you have an opening to question one or the other of them about drug/alcohol issues AND TO ATTEND THERAPY MEETINGS WITH THEM.
Other signs are far less reliable. You could tell marital problems occurring with them better than I could. All the other signs of addiction, I, as a trained addiction doctor would do better than you. Pupil abnormalities, thinking and movement irregularitites, even track marks are very hard for the untrained to judge.
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How To Identify Smoking And Drug Addiction In Person?

ok... first drug addiction and child safety have nothing in common. over 1% of the population have problems in alcohol and drugs each and very few of these people are a danger to children. Contrarily, all of the most famous child murderers/abusers in the US were free of addiction. Separate issues. First, telling if someone is a drug addict. In the early stages of addiction trouble with spouse is a very good indicator. If you don t know they are having marital problems.. if it isn t very very obvious, this would eliminate over half of those with drug or alcohol problems... it is a bit UNLIKELY. If they are having marital problems, then you have an opening to question one or the other of them about drug/alcohol issues AND TO ATTEND THERAPY MEETINGS WITH THEM. Other signs are far less reliable. You could tell marital problems occurring with them better than I could. All the other signs of addiction, I, as a trained addiction doctor would do better than you. Pupil abnormalities, thinking and movement irregularitites, even track marks are very hard for the untrained to judge.