Welcome to Notes by Dr. Watts

Welcome to 101 Ways To Tell If Someone I Love Is Addicted, a dedicated resource for recognizing substance abuse at home, school, or work. We help you identify observable "red flags" so you can move from helpless observation to informed action. You are not alone, and you are not powerless.

Where to Start

If you feel overwhelmed, start by clicking the "Next Steps" tab. This section is designed to be your compass in the early stages of discovery. Here is how to navigate it:

• 1 "The 101 Ways To Tell": This initial module helps you clarify what "normal" looks like for your specific situation. Before identifying a problem, you must first establish a baseline of the individual's typical personality, habits, and responsibilities.

• 2 "The Checklist and Rating Scale": We have curated a checklist form for you to meausre the most common behavioral and physical markers of substance abuse that your loved one may be showing. This section helps you categorize what you are seeing—from changes in clothing and hygiene to erratic social withdrawal or classroom performance declines. It allows you to numericlly clarify how serious the problem is.

• 3 The Action Plan: Finally, this tab outlines how to document your observations without escalating conflict.

• 4 "Resources": This is the place you can go for answers to many other questions you may have about whqt to do or where to go now that you know the full exent of the problem. Some families may find the problem to be relatively small evne though there are signs of alcohol or other drug use. Some families may find that the problems associated with their love one's alcohol and/or drug use is abusive and warrants more explicit action. Then, some other families may find that the abuse of alcohol and/or other drugs is so severe that it warrants a full-blown intervention and treatment. Whatever the case, you will be empowered to act appropriately to the nature of the threat and eventually resolve it.

• 5 "Drug Facts": This series of pages helps you learn the language of drugs aand alcohol that your loved one may be using. Uncovering this language can go a long way toward breaking down denialof their communications by texting or using emails to correspond with others who are using or drug dealers. It also gives you the neurobiology of drugs. "Please Unwoven" and "Memo to Self" are two videos and their links that are free to you to explain the biology of addiction in ways many parents or non-drug users can understand and obtain a new look at the problem.

• 6 "Notes from Dr. Watts:" is the newsletter/blog you are now reading. Each week I will present another paper that will help tie together your work on this site with our original purpose - The lower your anxiety and fear and give you some peace of mind that you weren't too late or missed anything in your loved one that could have prevented their addiction.

Remember, information is your most valuable tool. Use this site to quiet the chaos in your mind and start seeing the reality of the situation clearly. Let’s begin the journey toward understanding and intervention together by becoming a Lifetime Member.

Thanks!