If someone you love is displaying changes in behavior that make you suspect they are using drugs, they may need your help.
At first, it may be easy to overlook the signs of addiction in a loved one. Episodes of âunusualâ behavior can be written off as âheâs having a bad dayâ or âitâs just her time of the month.ââ Over time, these episodes turn into half-day, whole day and eventual everyday moods and attitudes. After a while, itâs all but impossible to ignore how much your loved oneâs changed and how his or her quality of life has declined.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction operates as a chronic disease that takes over a personâs sense of self-control in the face of persistent drug cravings. While you and others may clearly see the effects of addiction in a loved oneâs life, the addict canât see past the next âhigh.â Being able to spot signs a loved one needs help during the early stages can go a long way towards stopping addiction in its tracks.
Here are the ten most common signs a loved one needs addiction help:
1. Changes in Appearance
Addiction not only alters addictsâ physical appearance, but also the way they take care of themselves. Key signs include disheveled or unkempt clothing, drastic changes in weight and a decline in overall health.
2. Loss of Interest
Activities once enjoyed become insignificant as addicts devote more and more time to getting and using drugs.
3. Neglecting Close Relationships
As addiction progresses, addicts start to neglect relationships with close friends and family; partly because of different interests and partly to hide their drug-using practices.
4. Mysterious Behaviors
When a loved one knows others disapprove of his or her behavior, he or she becomes more so secretive in order to avoid unpleasant interactions or having to explain their whereabouts and doings.
5. Isolative Behaviors
Addicts tend to isolate themselves from the people that know them best. Spending an unusual amount of time locked away in their rooms and away from others helps them better hide drug-using behaviors.
6. Drug Paraphernalia
Even the most discreet of addicts can leave the occasional pipe, razor blade or syringe lying unattended. Other types of drug paraphernalia to watch out for include:
Rolling papers
Bongs
Mirrors
Pieces of glass
7. Mood Swings
Ongoing drug use inevitably wears on a personâs overall demeanor and personality. Frequent mood swings result from the effects of drug use on brain chemical functions.
8. Extreme Behavior Displays
A loved one displaying behaviors that are out of character for him or her may well be using drugs. Extreme behaviors can take the form of:
Aggression
Violence
Giddiness
Unusual excitement
High energy levels
9. Problems Sleeping
Someone whoâs been using for a while will start to develop unusual sleep patterns. As brain functions continue to deteriorate, sleeping too much or not sleeping at all will become the norm rather than the exception.
10. Problems at Work
As drugâs take over a personâs reasoning processes, responsibilities like going to work will take on less and less importance. Calling in sick to work or not showing up at all starts to happen on an increasingly frequent basis.
One of the scariest parts of rehab is the idea that you have to go through it all alone and your family can also feel isolated by the idea of a rehab program, especially an inpatient one. Itâs hard for people to know what role they are supposed to play when they donât know very….
Pain killer addiction can pose serious challenges in treatment. Many different methods of pain killer addiction treatment exist to help people who suffer from physical dependence to reclaim their lives and get on the right path to sobriety and long term recovery. For most recovering addicts, the first step in healing is to spend time in….
The biggest thing that Seasons Recovery Center stresses to its patients is that reaching rock bottom is not necessary in order for an individual to seek help for their addiction. Alcohol addiction, even in the early stages, can be treated and it should be treated prior to more serious problems and potential consequences developing. Outpatient….
Sometimes it’s not as easy as you would think to recognize the signs of teenage drug abuse but for the parent of a teenager, a firm understanding of the signs and symptoms of drug abuse is vital. If you can recognize the early signs that your teenager may be abusing drugs then you can quickly….
As you progress through treatment, itâs common to feel as if you need some social element as a part of your recovery. Safe socialization and making friends in recovery is a huge part of healing. Itâs common to feel a little uneasy, scared or otherwise out of place at first but as time goes on….
Opiates remain the standard of care for treating most any type of pain symptom, particularly in cases of chronic pain. With the range of opiate drugs on the market, a person may be exposed to any number of drug types depending on one’s pain symptoms respond to treatment. Over time, the therapeutic effects of opiates….
Youâre going to drug and alcohol treatment to get sober, but you know the statistics, and you know that rehab is not a guarantee of sobriety. But you want to give it the best shot, and to do that, here are 10 ways to help you get the most out of treatment. Focus on Recovery….
Yes, you can force someone to go to rehab. Although this is not the preferable way to do it, it is possible to make someone check into a rehab center. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, rehab does not have to be a voluntary choice to work. It is however, considerably more difficult….
When it comes to methamphetamine addiction recovery, there are many challenges a person will face along the way. While it may be difficult to overcome this type of addiction, it is something that many people successfully accomplish every year. Some people are able to quit cold turkey, overcoming their meth addiction without any outside help…..
Many parents hear about animal therapy for children and wonder if it will be beneficial for their child. In some cases, kids with attachment issues, foster children, and children on the autism spectrum can receive many benefits from working with animals in a therapeutic situation. However, certain types of animal rehab work better than others….
Calls to any general helpline will be answered or returned by one of the treatment providers listed, each of which is a paid advertiser: Recovery Helpline or Alli Addiction Services.
By calling the helpline you agree to the terms of use. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a caller chooses. There is no obligation to enter treatment.
