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.
Everyone knows the stereotype of the people who go to drug rehab. Theyâre junkies. Theyâre unclean. They live on the streets, they prostitute, and they donât care about anything but themselves. Thatâs who people think of when they think of drug rehab. Yet, thatâs not the case. Addiction doesnât have biases and there are thousands….
According to the NIDA, “Long-term methamphetamine abuse has many negative consequences, including addiction.” Because the drug is so potent and its effects are so intense, recovery from methamphetamine addiction can take a very long time and be extremely precarious. This is why rehab is such an important part of meth addiction recovery. We can help….
Heroin is an extremely powerful opiate made from opium. Opium is an ancient drug that was used as a painkiller and social distraction for centuries. Its more refined form, heroin, is currently illegal in the United States and several other countries. According to that National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2.4 million people age 12 and….
So youâve decided to get help for an addiction to drugs or alcohol? Now youâre wondering where you can find a free program that will serve your needs. Fortunately, there are some options that can make recovery a possibility for you. It is often difficult to find free inpatient rehab programs because they can be….
Opiates such as heroin and certain prescription medication such as OxyContin and Roxies can be deadly when an individual becomes addicted to them. The euphoric effects of opiates are what initially cause individuals to begin using the drugs but in a short time, the individual can become highly addicted both physically and psychologically to these….
Going to a rehab center, especially a residential facility, can be difficult but it can also be very necessary to your recovery under certain circumstances. If you are considering this treatment option, it is important to ask yourself how best you will be able to attend residential care and in what ways your loved ones….
Choosing to attend an aftercare program after your formal treatment has ended can actually make an incredible difference in the success of your heroin addiction recovery. Many individuals choose to forgo this option, but transition is a necessary part of recovery, so much so that it can actually protect you from relapse. Consider choosing an….
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, as of 2010, an estimated 2.7 percent of American adults reportedly use prescription drugs for recreational purposes. While prescription abuse has been around for a long time, this 2.7 percent estimate represents a 300 percent increase in rates within the last ten years alone. Prescription drug addictions….
Heroin addiction is one of the most dangerous drugs in the entire world. The drug takes thousands of lives every year as a result of overdose or injury caused while under the use of heroin. The highly addictive drug that contributes to a very fast building of tolerance has numerous side effects and the risks….
About Drug Addiction and Christian Rehab Centers According to the National Institute on Drugs Abuse, there were approximately 24 million people twelve years of age or older that needed treatment for an illegal drug or alcohol abuse problem in 2009. However, only 2.6 million of these people who needed treatment actually got it. Drug addiction….
