AIBU to suspect DS is using drugs?

[ForTheWins]

Name Changed.
DS is mid 20s, a teacher and has lived away since uni but visits often. He moved in with his GF approx one year ago. Since moving in with her he has changed beyond recognition. He no longer sees his friends, has become very jumpy and quite forgetful, to the point that he forgot they had booked a holiday over half term and missed the flights.
He has put a lot of weight on, talks about giving up his career (which he previously loved) but most worryingly of all he has started to talk about lots of conspiracy theories and has even rang us at 4am to tell us his thoughts on everything from ancient Gods watching over us, to cloud seeding. It's all quite paranoid. If you challenge any of his ideas he becomes verbally aggressive.
His GF is on disability benefits and doesn't work.
AIBU to suspect drug abuse? If so how do we challenge this without alienating him further?

Mental health difficulties yes.
Abuse of drugs less likely but possible.

Mental health issues.

We have asked him about mental health but he denies any issues. I'm at a total loss how to help him but something isn't right at all.

It sounds more like he may be experiencing psychosis than taking drugs. Have you spoken to his girlfriend to see if she feels concerned?

It’s not drugs. It’s mental health

Yes they do deny it as they don’t see anything wrong with their behaviour. It’s definitely mental health.

Mid 20s is a classic time for certain specific mental health diagnoses to develop. He needs to see a doctor. I'm afraid I dont think this is drugs. Please encourage him to see someone.

(Of course he will deny it btw- people in psychosis do not recognise it)

I haven't approached his girlfriend, I've only met her once so I wouldn't know how to raise this with her? Maybe I'll just ask if she's noticed anything amiss.

Schizophrenia?

Yes. I didnt want to say this as its not my place to say and it might not be that at all but my point is, it is not uncommon for people to develop MH issues in early- mid 20s

Sounds like his mental health is deteriorating, with paranoia and possible elements of psychosis. If he disagrees when you suggest mental health issue then he just has no insight.
not necessarily anything to do with drugs at all.
can you offer to accompany him to his GP for support? Tell him it could be to discuss his forgetfulness /stress etc ?

If I try to talk to him he will say that I'm mad and hang up. There's no way I could get him to a Dr.

Sounds like psychosis. This happened to my brother he just randomly developed it from stress, he had to be sectioned.

Speak to his girlfriend first, and make a plan of action together.

Dont mention mental health. Say to him, I can see that these thoughts are really distressing you - would you like to talk to someone about them? and see what he says. If you approach it gently and in a non confrontational manner he might be more open to discussing them.

How is your brother now? Did he recover?

He would deny any issues if he was experiencing what sounds like psychosis as those going through it wholeheartedly believe that what they’re saying is true and can’t understand why other people aren’t “seeing” it.

Obviously you can’t rule out the drug possibility, and psychosis can be drug induced, but isn’t always. The trigger can sometimes be as simple as stress.

Have you spoken to his girlfriend? Does she seem concerned? Does she seem strung out? That’d be my first line of enquiry to see if you can gage what’s going on. You also need to try and convince him to see a doctor.

it sounds like his mental health is an issue but whether it deteriorated before drugs or because of drugs is anyone’s guess.

btw cloud seeding sounds bizarre but is real. it happened during chernobyl when russia wanted to protect itself from nuclear rain by making the clouds empty before they reached berlin and is a fact. So if they used it then and we didn't know, they could be using it now and we wouldn’t know, so i’d be open minded on that.
But 4am wth.

It took him three years to recover properly as he was sectioned twice and took a long time to find the right medication but yes he’s okay now has a mortage and works full time. :) my parents thought drugs to begin with too, but was the stress of a few things that just pushed him over the edge.

Like others I think this is likely to be psychosis or another severe mental health disorder. Drugs may or may not be involved and if they are it will certainly not help.

I would talk to his partner urgently and try to find out if she is also concerned.

Could be either drugs or MH or both. My ex had undiagnosed MH issues and became addicted to drugs - he then started to develope psychosis and paranoia, which got worse and worse. His mother is schizophrenic.

I would speak to the GF if you can as she may be struggling to cope with his behaviour, especially if he is being aggresssive. You could potentially raise a safeguarding concern as she sounds vulnerable herself.