Substance abuse can affect behavior, relationships, and responsibilities, often creating noticeable changes over time. Three common warning signs taught in wellness education includeincreasing secretiveness and isolation (A),changing friends abruptly (B), anddeclining school or job performance (D).
Secretiveness and isolationcan occur when a person tries to hide use, avoid questions, or escape accountability. They may withdraw from family activities, spend more time alone, or become defensive about where they go or how they spend money.Abruptly changing friends or peersmay reflect shifting toward social groups where substance use is more accepted or accessible, or distancing from peers who might challenge the behavior. This can also show up as changes in routines, hangouts, or unwillingness to introduce new friends to family.
Declining performanceis a major functional sign. Substance misuse can impair attention, memory, motivation, punctuality, and decision-making. A person may miss classes or work, turn in incomplete assignments, lose interest in previously valued goals, or receive negative feedback from teachers or supervisors. When substance use becomes a priority, responsibilities often suffer.
The other options are less specific.Increasing time on the Internet (C)can happen for many reasons (school, gaming, socializing, work) and is not a reliable indicator by itself.Fixating on specific tasks or processes (E)may relate to personality traits, stress, or certain mental health patterns; it is not a classic substance misuse warning sign without additional context.
Wellness guidance emphasizes looking forpatternsandclusters of changes—behavioral shifts, social withdrawal, and performance decline—rather than relying on a single sign.