Drug Addiction: Almost 20 million people over the age of twelve currently struggle with an untreated substance use disorder. Caught in the throes of addiction, everything from physical, emotional, and personal struggles ensue. Seeking help and accessing treatment is essential to recovery. Knowing the warning signs of drug addiction is a crucial first step in getting help. Keep reading for some key signs of drug abuse and addiction.
Drug Paraphernalia seeing actual physical evidence of drug-taking constitutes a definite red flag. The evidence itself can take many forms. Examples are scattered remnants of the drugs themselves glass pipes, rolling papers, bongs tin foil, and needles. Be wary if you notice them in and around your house and or in the bedrooms of loved ones. Now, this doesn’t always indicate addiction, but it’s a fairly clear sign of drug-taking.
Stashes another warning sign of addiction
Stashes another warning sign of addiction is the presence of drug stashes. People who are addicted to a substance are often incredibly ashamed of their habit. They know they shouldn’t do it, but can’t stop. As such, they try to hide their habit from everyone, including themselves. It isn’t uncommon for people to start keeping stashes of their drugs of choice.
Doing so helps them remain undetected while continuing to indulge in their addiction. Stashes constitute one of the clearest signs of a burgeoning or a fully-fledged drug problem. Finding small parcels or packages of drugs and drug-taking paraphernalia is never good news and should not be ignored. Likewise, anyone who finds themselves feeling compelled to stash their drugs away should consider seeking support. Altered Physical Appearance addiction can take its toll on a physical capacity, too.
Everything about the impact it has can lead to alterations in someone’s appearance. For example, many people begin to prioritize drugs over food. As a result, they begin to lose weight to an unhealthy degree. Other possible changes include an overall decline in their hygiene. Remember, nothing else matters when all you can think about is using again.
Hair goes unbrushed
Hair goes unbrushed, clothes go unwashed, and oral hygiene goes out the window. Bloodshot, eyes, yellow teeth, and a general air of dishevelment are all signs to be on the lookout for. However, it’s important to note that not everyone struggling with addiction will show physical changes. You don’t have to fit the stereotype of an addict to be one. Someone can seem, for all intents and purposes, unchanged on the outside.
Underneath that veneer may lie a serious illness. Thus, be sure to keep the other signs of addiction on this list in mind too. Mood Swings addiction doesn’t just alter someone’s outward appearance. Mental health can suffer too. Along with their entire personality, mood swings are a frequent struggle for anyone hooked on a substance.
These swings can short-lived and or long-standing. For example, in the blink of an eye, someone who’s usually warm and affable can become aggressive and abrasive. In a more permanent sense, someone addicted to drugs can become impatient demanding, self-interested and critical. It can feel like the habit removes their capacity for self-control and understanding. For outsiders, developments like this can be as confusing as they are.
Identifying addiction in its early stages is a great way to prevent it from worsening
Troubling someone you’ve known for years can seem like a total stranger. Identifying addiction in its early stages is a great way to prevent it from worsening.