How To Spot Addiction
It can be very difficult to spot the signs of drug addiction in other people
, even close friends and family. Denial prevents drug addicts from recognizing and facing their own problems, but it can also keep loved ones from admitting to the awful state of a friend or family member. Drug addicts can also be extremely skillful at hiding their problems and lying to people who suspect something is wrong. However, a rudimentary understanding of the behavior and thought patterns of addiction will allow most people to recognize drug addiction where it occurs. Once people develop a better understanding of substance abuse, they can help addicts who are unable to help themselves.
Bodily Indicators of Substance Abuse
Several physical indicators of drug abuse are bloodshot eyes, track marks, open sores, scarring, vomiting, and involuntary bodily actions. An Ohio State University Medical Center study also found that weight loss, chronic fatigue, and visibly poor hygiene are common symptoms, as well. The magnitude of these symptoms tends to be in direct proportion to the frequency and length of drug abuse, as well as the time that has passed since the previous use.
Overdoses usually produce far more severe symptoms. Heart attacks, chest pains, shortness of breath, and other cardiovascular problems are the most common and most deadly. This is why users who overdose must be rushed to emergency rooms to survive.
Psychological Signs of Drug Abuse
Just as many people turn to drugs because of psychological problems, drug addiction itself tends to cause many emotional difficulties. Addicts can be short-tempered and verbally or physically aggressive. They also tend to respond to situations with inappropriate severity too extreme or nearly numb. Because of these extremes, addicts can feel isolated from the more even-keel people around them.
The emotional problems of drug addiction can be so severe that they develop into full-blown psychiatric conditions. Experts have noted that symptoms resembling mental illness occur during periods of active use. During and after withdrawal, these symptoms can continue and even worsen suggesting that drug addiction can actually create permanent emotional damage. On the other hand, medical professionals have suggested that drug abuse can bring to light existing psychological conditions by making their symptoms more severe.
The Behavior Patterns of Addiction
Behavioral signs of drug addiction are typically the most visible. The three primary behaviors which characterize addiction are:
1. Loss of control Addicts no longer choose when, how often, or in what dosages they use drugs or alcohol.
2. Obsessive-compulsiveness They constantly discuss and plan their next uses.
3. Ignoring the Consequences Addicts continue to use in ever-higher amounts in the face of prison sentences, job losses, and destroyed families.
If you have seen these behaviors or thought patterns in yourself or a loved one, you need to get help as soon as possible. Use the links below for a confidential, no-obligation consultation. We offer inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs which are considered to be among the most successful in the United States. Dont wait another day to get your life back on track.
by: Leiaste Ploneck
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