Are You an Addict? 10 Signs You Need Help

Addiction and alcoholism have become increasingly common in our society. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 19.7 million American adults battled a substance use disorder in 2017. Too often, people become addicted to a substance and are too wrapped up in their addiction to be able to recognize that their behavior is unhealthy. Because of this, it is important to look for the signs in your loved ones and in yourself.

Everyone behaves differently while they are battling addiction, especially depending on what substance they are using. Nonetheless, there are always a few signs that every addict or alcoholic has in common, no matter what their drug of choice may be. The following are the top 10 signs of addiction:

1) Sudden Changes in Personality

As addiction progresses, people begin to change their behavior in order to serve the needs of their addiction more effectively. What this means is, if you once had strong morals against something like stealing and then suddenly decided stealing was okay in order for you to obtain the drugs/alcohol that you desired, you may be an addict.

Also, drugs can cause physical symptoms such as outbursts of anger, fidgeting, hyperactivity, paranoia, or lack of motivation. If you notice a drastic change in behavior as such, drug abuse is a possible cause.

2) Risky Behavior

When someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol uses their substance of choice, they tend to feel like they are unstoppable or on top of the world. Because of this, while they are under the influence they may engage in risky behavior that they may not be involved in otherwise.

Examples include fighting, stealing, having unprotected sex or being more promiscuous than usual, lashing out at others seemingly without provocation, challenging authority, gambling or spending their money on excess amounts of drugs, and driving while under the influence.

3) Relationship Problems

When you are an addict, your drug of choice will take priority over all other aspects of your life. This means that an addict’s or alcoholic’s relationships will suffer tremendously because they can’t prioritize properly, causing bad fights and arguments.

4) Neglected Responsibilities

When you are under the influence, your ability to make critical decisions decreases severely. This means someone may call in sick to work, forget to pay the bills or spend their money on drugs instead, and even fail to show up for important plans. Despite the consequences of failing to meet important responsibilities, many addicts can not stop using.

5) Using the Substance More Frequently

After using a substance for an extended period of time, addicts begin to build a tolerance to the drug. This means they will begin to use more of the drug at a time and most likely have to use it more often in order to attempt to create the same effect they had received previously. Addicts start out as social users and overtime develop into daily users; sometimes this can happen quickly or very slowly, it all depends on the drug and the person using it.

6) Keeping Secrets

It is common for addicts to attempt to hide their drug use, as a result of feeling guilty and not wanting to upset their loved ones. This means lying about what they spent all of their money on, where they went last night, who they were with, and what they were doing. If you notice that you or a loved one is having to fabricate stories in order to use a substance without anyone finding out about it, that is a common sign of addiction.

7) Changes in Appearance

Many drugs can cause a decline in personal appearance. We have all seen the before and after pictures of drug users on the internet, but sometimes changes in appearance aren’t so drastic. It can be as simple as losing weight, having dilated pupils, bags under your eyes, caring less about wearing nice clothes, bloodshot eyes, bad body odor, or coordination problems.

8) An Increased Need for the Substance

A person who is beginning to fall deeper into addiction may begin to use their drug of choice to self-medicate symptoms like anxiety, depression, or to relax after work. When an addict does not use the substance, the negative feelings they were attempting to suppress can come back in a more intense manner. This is what makes the addict begin to use more frequently and believe that they need the substance in order to function “normally."

9) Physical Health Problems

Using drugs and alcohol irresponsibly or without a prescription can come with extra risk. Many substances cause severe health issues when used long-term such as blacking out, negatively reacting to existing mental illnesses, paranoia, and infections from sharing needles. Addicts will continue to use despite health issues.

10) Failed Attempts to Quit Using

Addicts experience extreme cravings for their drug of choice, making it difficult for them to quit using on their own even if they fully intend to. They also suffer from the inability to control how much of a substance they intake; an addict may fully believe they will only have one drink and then end up waking up the next morning having no idea what happened.

How Can You Get Help?

In order to ensure your safety, it is imperative that you go to a medically-assisted detox facility. Detoxes offer you 24/7 medical care, therapy, and time to clear your head while staying away from outside triggers. There are varying withdrawal symptoms that you may go through depending on your drug of choice and some can be life-threatening if left untreated. For example, when detoxing from long-term alcohol abuse you can suffer from dangerous seizures or heart attacks. Getting sober is never something that you should go through alone, so find a treatment center that fits your needs.

SAMHSA’s National Helpline, 1-800-662-HELP (4357), (also known as the Treatment Referral Routing Service) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889 is a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders. This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. Callers can also order free publications and other information.