Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board

CONTACT INFORMATION: Emergency - 703-573-5679 / Detox - 703-502-7000 (24/7)
703-383-8500 TTY 711
8221 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
Daryl Washington
Executive Director

Signs of opioid use

Concerned about a loved one? Contact CSB Entry & Referral at 703-383-8500 during business hours.

24/7 help is available:

In a life-threatening emergency, call 911.


Signs of Use

  • Isolation and secretive behavior
  • Loss of interest in favorite activities
  • Eats a lot more or a lot less than usual
  • Moodiness, irritability, nervousness, giddiness
  • Emotionally erratic: quickly changes between feeling bad and good
  • Seems tired, sad or nervous, cranky – or unusually energetic
  • Talks fast, says things that don't make sense
  • Sleeps at strange hours
  • Misses important appointments
  • Neglects personal hygiene
  • Change in attitude/personality
  • Avoiding contact with family
  • Change in friends, new hangouts
  • Drop in grades or work performance
  • Stealing
  • Wearing long-sleeved shirts out of season (to cover needle marks)

  • Pupils of eyes are small, pinpoints
  • Decreased respiration rate
  • Sleepy or non-responsive
  • No appetite
  • Intense flu-like symptoms: nausea, vomiting, sweating, shaking of hands, feet, or head
  • Missing medications
  • Burnt or missing spoons or bottle caps
  • Syringes
  • Small bags with powder residue
  • Missing shoe laces or belts

  • Genetic – Person with family member who has addiction is at greater risk.
  • Environmental – Parents not involved with children, peer use, social settings.
  • Early use – More likely to develop addiction if use starts when young.
  • Smoking or injecting – More addictive because drug passes directly into bloodstream and brain without being filtered through liver and other organs.

Explore Opioid Overdose and Naloxone Education (REVIVE! Kit Training) to Prevent Overdose

Learn what to do and not do in an overdose situation, how to administer naloxone, and what to do afterwards.


Make a Plan to Prevent Overdose

Keep safe. Prevent overdose.


Fairfax Virtual Assistant