Signs and Symptoms of Drug Addiction How to Tell if Someone Needs Help

If you have identified some of these signs in yourself or someone you love, you may want to reach out to an intervention specialist. Addiction is difficult to talk about, even with those you are very close to. An intervention specialist will help your family approach the topic of addiction with clarity and understanding and can provide invaluable support and advice. Withdrawn behavior and responding with hostility or wariness when uncomfortable topics arise can be a sign of defensiveness. A person trying to hide addiction may redirect the conversation with arguments or even aggressive mood swings, and distraction methods are also a defensive sign.

Other indicators of paranoia include overthinking interactions, questioning other peoples’ motives or actions, or having extreme trust issues. Paranoia is a symptom of using drugs including marijuana, cocaine, LSD, meth, and alcohol. Here are some physical, behavioral, and psychological signs of drug use. Keep in mind that not everyone reacts in the same way and this list is not all-inclusive. Some individuals may demonstrate signs as described below while others may show none. There isn’t an overnight cure for drug addiction, but with treatment, it is possible to get better over time.

Some drugs, like alcohol, marijuana, crack, or meth, have distinct smells that individuals may try to cover up. You may notice those smells on their clothes, in their car or bedroom, or on their breath or skin. Responsible for 10% of deaths among working-age adults in the United States. The immediate effects of cocaine, which include extreme energy, alertness, and hypersensitivity, are fleeting. The impact it has on the dopamine neurotransmitter system in the brain strongly encourages repetitive and more frequent use — a recipe for addiction.

One of the more severe psychological signs of drug use is hallucinations. Those without addictions can experience hallucinations as well, which is exhibited in Schizophrenia, another severe mental health issue. These often occur when the person has taken a hallucinogen such as LSD, psilocybin , or DMT. The risks and speed of developing an addiction depend on the drug. Some drugs, like opioid painkillers, cause addiction very quickly.

Environmental Signs of a Drug Problem

Drugabuse.com needs to review the security of your connection before proceeding. No matter the type of addiction, if you recognize symptoms, it is important to seek the necessary help. Cirque Lodge is a recovery retreat providing cognitive and experiential therapies, in the pristine natural beauty of Utah’s Rocky Mountains.

Anyone who uses drugs intravenously also has an increased risk of developing other conditions and diseases. In fact, drugs can impact short-term and long-term memories. They may cause issues with remembering simple things, such as when to pick a child up from school or when to go to the grocery store. Long-term memory problems can result in forgetting the names of close friends.

This is because alcohol changes the way they process information and react to it. People who use certain drugs and become addicted may become overly paranoid or anxious. Paranoia is a real mental health issue outside of substance abuse and drug abuse, but it is exacerbated by drugs. This https://en.forexpulse.info/ person may believe that special hidden messages are being transmitted just to them. They may also have an inflated sense of self and that they have a special role or significance that is unrecognized. Physical changes are arguably the most obvious or noticeable signs of drug use.

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Physical changes can include changes in the eyes, skin, weight, and any other visible physical aspect of a person. Although these are the most evident signs, they are not the only ones and must be considered with the behavioral and psychological signs. Our mission at Eleanor Health is to help people affected by drug addiction live amazing lives. We deliver whole-person, comprehensive care and are passionate about transforming the quality, delivery, and accessibility of drug addiction & mental health treatment. Our actions are rooted in respect for each member’s values, culture, and life experiences, and our commitment to their wellbeing is unwavering and without judgement.

• Because of the ups and downs involved with drug abuse, you may notice that this person is showing more depressive side effects, especially when they’re coming down from a high.
• People who use certain drugs and become addicted may become overly paranoid or anxious.
• For that reason, people don’t often make it known that they are struggling with addiction.
• There isn’t an overnight cure for drug addiction, but with treatment, it is possible to get better over time.

This can manifest as urges to take a prescription drug at a higher dose than prescribed or continuing after the health problem it treats has ended. Addiction makes it hard to follow even self-prescribed rules. If you have set yourself a self-imposed use limit but cannot stop yourself, this is a concerning sign. While these are not definitive signs, if they are accompanied by secretiveness or defensiveness, they could provide helpful clues as to whether something is wrong.

Signs of Drug Abuse or Addiction

In actuality, addiction is a complex and chronic brain disease that can affect people from all backgrounds. Your loved one may become defensive when asked about where they’ve been, what they’ve been doing, or who they’ve been hanging out with. They may especially become defensive if you ask them about drugs or addiction. Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant that is most frequently used recreationally.

If you worry that someone you love has an addiction to an IV drug such as heroin or meth, you should look for the physical signs of addiction. You may want to look around the house for other signs as well. They may have relationship of anger with alcohol use treatment outcome hidden paraphernalia around the house, including the small plastic bags and glass vials that once held the drugs. You may find dirty needles or the orange caps that sit on the ends of the needles around the house.

It can be hard to know how to tell if someone is on drugs and what signs to look for when you suspect a family member or friend is struggling with chemical dependency. Oxycodone, including both the name brand and the generic, is a common IV drug. Some also use ADHD medications as an injection, including Ritalin. Another sign to look for is a change in appetite, which often goes along with a change in sleep patterns.

For people struggling with these synergistic conditions, dual diagnosis is key to effective healing. If you believe that your loved one may be dealing with substance abuse or drug addiction, reaching out to them is the best way to start a conversation help. Substance abuse can be overcome, and the odds of long-term recovery increase when a person seeks help through a professionally trained recovery center. Knowing how to tell if someone is on drugs can help you recognize when professional help is needed.

Another physical sign of intravenous drug use is one or more collapsed veins. The veins of the human body transport blood from one area to the next to keep the body healthy. If an individual keeps injecting substances into the same vein, that vein may eventually collapse and stop doing its necessary function of transporting blood. Though a collapsed vein is hard to see because it sits below the surface of the skin, a close look at the area should help you find it. Intravenous drugs are those injected directly into the body. While you might think that track marks will be easily visible on a friend’s or loved one’s arm, many people are able to hide the marks connected to this type ofsubstance use.

Private, Reclusive Behavior

If you are worried that you or a loved one is suffering from an addiction, uncertainty makes it hard to proceed. However, there are some telltale signs and symptoms to help you identify any potential issues. Many people struggling with addiction cannot support healthy relationships because their priority is drug use. They often let drug use get in the way of their relationships with friends, family members, and romantic partners. If your loved one is experiencing withdrawal or overdose symptoms, there is a good chance that they may be struggling with addiction.

When drugs are abused, those areas in the brain are altered. This disrupts normal functions and may cause a deficit in memory. Most people struggling with addiction are going to have some form of financial problems considering most, if not all, of their money is supporting their habit. They might have also lost their job due to a lack of productivity.

Over time, drug use alters the chemical and functional structures of the brain. Addiction and the intense need for a drug may cause someone who is normally very docile to become agitated and aggressive. Also, stimulant drugs may cause a normally depressed person to appear very energetic or even manic. Some of the most abused drugs are stimulants or depressants. Addictive substances alter the brain’s natural circadian rhythm which can actually cause sleep disturbances well after someone has stopped using the drug.

If you notice that your loved one has a drastic change in their usual mood, either they are extremely euphoric or drowsy, it could indicate drug use. Increased drug abuse can lead to anxiety or paranoia, especially if the drug has left their system and they are experiencing withdrawal. When drug use becomes a priority is alcoholism genetic or hereditary in someone’s life, hygiene and outward appearance may become less and less important. Some may forget they haven’t taken care of themselves because of the mental effects of their drug use. Others simply stop caring as their time is consumed by the high and then getting more of their drug so they can get high again.

Many places report that it’s now cheaper and easier to get illegal heroin than getting legal prescription painkillers. It’s important that you consider all the other possible signs of addiction to meth or other IV drugs. Those who use IV drugs will often wear clothing designed to hide infection sites. Officially called a soot tattoo, the discoloration occurs because a flame is placed below the needle before injecting in order to cleanse it before putting it in the skin. The soot that forms on the needle goes directly into the body and can leave behind a dark marks that becomes even darker over time.

There are even signs that can indicate which drug they may be abusing. Our team of addiction medicine experts are compassionate and committed to making addiction treatment accessible, understandable, and affordable. Everyone gets anxious, but those with an addiction or drug use problem will experience near-constant anxiety about a plethora of things. Understanding the science behind addiction can be complicated. Some people might think that people become addicted if they don’t have any willpower or good morals.