Unexplained Money Problems and Theft as Signs of Addiction

… more less Money problems can be a sign of substance use when they are new and do not make sense. Bills may go unpaid even though income has not changed. A person may borrow often, or ask for advances on pay or benefits. Cash, jewelry, or medicine may go missing from the home. Items may be pawned or sold, like a TV, tools, or a child's game system. Benefits may run out early in the month, every month. Being poor is not a sign. A low income with careful spending is just a hard life. The sign is an unexplained change, or a gap between what comes in and what is left. Other causes are common. Gambling, a large medical bill, a job cut, or old debt can drain money. Someone else in the home may be taking it. In older adults, a family member or caregiver may be stealing from them, which is a form of abuse. So ask open questions about how money is going. Do not accuse anyone of theft. Write down the facts, such as dates, amounts, and items the person says are missing. After this Concept you can tell poverty apart from an unexplained money change, and list other causes before you think of substances.