Recognizing an Addiction Problem
- a lack of control, or inability to stay away from a substance or behavior
- a reduction in their normal social activities, like abandoning commitments or ignoring relationships
- ignoring risk factors, like sharing needles despite potential consequences
- apathy or uncharacteristic behavior
These signs are usually related and they may be more evident or intense the longer the addiction has been going on. While a healthy person can usually identify a negative behavior and get rid of it, an addicted person cannot. This is one of the things an addict will tell you when confronted –– he simply cannot turn off the cravings on his own. Rather than admit the problem exists, they’ll find ways to justify and continue the behavior. Once they’ve reached this point, they’re likely deep in their addiction.
The Experimentation Phase
How does addiction begin? As our parents use to say, experimenting with gateway drugs can lead to addiction to more serious drugs. We dismissed this idea when we were teens but of course science has long proven this to be true. Smoking pot can lead someone to seek a greater high. Opiates are usually on that list and before long, a person is addicted without even knowing how it happened. Opiate addiction is one of the prevalent addiction problems around the world. Fortunately, there are some signs even in the early stages of the development of an addiction. Here’s what that might look like.
- experimentation
- a family history of addiction (people who have been around addicts tend to lessen their resistance to trying substances)
- being particularly drawn to an activity or substance
- intentionally seeking out situations where the substance or activity is present
- instances of binging with little or no feelings of remorse afterwards
When it comes to common social behaviors like drinking or smoking, it might be difficult to determine if there’s an addiction problem. What looks like addiction could be an experimental phase or a form of stress management. But a real addiction, if left untreated, can develop into a debilitating habit or increased risk of illness. If parents are truly engaged in monitoring their children’s behavior, the signs of narcotic addiction should be easy to spot. If parents are disconnected or uninvolved in their children’s lives, it’s not uncommon for addicts to have hidden their addiction for many years. The same thing holds true for romantic partners or friends –– we often hear stories how friends and family were completely shocked to learn their loved one was addicted at all,
Changes in Behavior
After a person moves past experimenting or the early phase of addiction, they’ll likely exhibit major personality or behavior changes. These changes may be infrequent at first. Again, there are signs to look for:
- a lack of interest in hobbies, the things or activities that used to be important them
- they start neglecting relationships or acting out to the people those closest to them
- missing important obligations like school, work, or social gatherings
- they exhibit no fear towards taking risks, especially to get drugs or continue certain behaviors
- although they suffer negative consequences (arrests, relationship failures), they do not seem troubled about the situation
- you notice a serious change in sleeping patterns and/or they can’t seem to ever be energetic
- they seem to be secretive, or they start making up fantastic stories about where they were or who they were with
You may notice that they start to seem withdrawn over time. People with an addiction tend to surround themselves with others who encourage their habits. When confronted, they may make excuses and try to justify their behavior to you.
Common Signs of Narcotic Addiction
Mood/Psychological symptoms:
- Increased anxiety
- Anxiety attacks when none existed before
- Euphoria
- Psychosis, at any level
- Changes to self-esteem
- Depression
- Irritability or anxiousness
- Lowered motivation
Behavioral symptoms:
- When Opioids are used for longer or at a greater amount than intended
- Unsuccessful attempts to reduce the amount taken
- Large amount of time spent in search of the drug or using it, or recovering from instances of use of the drug
- Abandonment of important activities
Physical symptoms:
- Improved alertness
- Increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli
- Constricted blood vessels
- Increased heart rate
- High blood pressure
- Increased energy
- Decreased appetite
- Increased sexual arousal
- Physical agitation
- Difficulty sleeping
- Over arousal and hyper-vigilance
Signs and Symptoms of Substance Addiction
The signs and symptoms of substance abuse can be physical, behavioral, and psychological. One clear sign of addiction is not being able to stop using the substance. It is also not being able to stop yourself from using more than the recommended amount. With opiate addiction, there are some other things one can look for including:
- poor coordination
- drowsiness
- shallow or slow breathing rate
- nausea, vomiting
- constipation
- physical agitation
- poor decision making
- abandoning responsibilities
- slurred speech
- sleeping more or less than normal
- mood swings
- euphoria (feeling high)
- irritability
- depression
- lowered motivation
- anxiety attacks.
Whatever the Addiction, Seek Treatment
One of the worst things that can happen is denial among loved ones –– some loved ones simply can’t bring themselves to believe their loved one is addicted until something catastrophic happens. Too often, we hear stories of parents who have learned about their child’s addiction after they died from an overdose. In almost every case, the signs of narcotic addiction were there but were overlooked by the loved ones who were too wrapped up in their own world to even consider the possibility. Knowing how to talk about addiction is important, so do some research. Please, if you even suspect an addiction problem, seek help, even if it’s not from us.
If You Or Your Loved One Needs Help, Contact Us Now. We Accept Most Insurance Plans.
The first step toward recovery is recognizing that a problem exists. Whether the problem is with opioids or any other substances, a comprehensive addiction treatment program is the path to recovery. However, the addict must want treatment, While loved ones might push for treatment and the addict might even except treatment, it will not be successful if the addict does’t want treatment for himself.