In the United States, 1 in 7 people aged 12 years and older report having an SUD. The condition can affect any person regardless of age, race and ethnicity, income level, or gender. This article looks at what SUD involves and its symptoms and treatment options. People with a dual diagnosis often have symptoms that are more severe, persistent, and resistant to treatment than those with an SUD alone. Know that doctors and other medical professionals will NOT turn you into the police or “tell” on you. They’re only there to help, so do not hesitate to go to the hospital or take a loved one. Exposure to chemicals, plants, and other toxic substances that can cause harm are called poisonings.
Behavioral Signs of Drug Addiction
Risk and protective factors may be either environmental or biological. If your loved one is experiencing withdrawal or overdose symptoms, there is a good chance that they may be struggling with addiction. Seeking medical attention is critical in these situations, even if you are unsure of what they’ve taken or if they’re even using drugs. Knowing what withdrawal symptoms and overdose symptoms look like may save your loved one’s life. One of the most important factors influencing attractiveness of regular substance abuse is the existence of significant opportunities for establishing goals and experiencing meaningful rewards in life. Research demonstrates, for example, that poverty is a strong contributor to drug use, because it imposes many barriers to resources and impediments to achieving individual goals.
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Despite these risks, buprenorphine is an important treatment option for opioid use disorder (OUD) and pain, and the benefits of these medicines clearly outweigh the risks. It’s important to note that the most effective treatment approach can vary depending on the individual and their specific circumstances. Treatment plans should be tailored to address the unique needs and challenges of each person struggling with drug addiction. It is important to consult with healthcare professionals or addiction specialists to determine the most appropriate treatment options.
How your body processes drugs
You get defensive or belligerent with loved ones or colleagues who want to know what’s going on; they notice peculiarities about your behavior or appearance that you are not likely to recognize. You maintain a belief that you can stop any time you want—despite evidence to the contrary. • Developing the unpleasant physiologic symptoms of withdrawal—shakiness, sweating, queasiness or vomiting, headache—when unable to take the substance. Withdrawal is a highly variable sign of addiction; it occurs with use of some drugs (alcohol, for example) but not others (cocaine); however, it often drives continuing use. Withdrawal can require medical treatment when a person abruptly stops heavy substance use. Talk with your primary doctor or see a mental health professional, such as a doctor who specializes in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry, or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.
These CNS depressants are often prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Benzodiazepines include common medications, such as Valium and Xanax. Barbiturates are not used as much as they used to be; however, they are still sometimes employed to treat seizure disorders and during surgery. Barbiturates carry a higher risk of overdose than benzodiazepines. A person who abuses these drugs may appear uninhibited, dizzy, or depressed.
- They may choose to sleep all the time or not want to do anything that requires them to be out of reach of their drug.
- In 2019, 9.5 million adults in the United States lived with both mental illness and a substance use disorder, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
- There are many factors involved and it varies between people and drugs.
- Behavior in general can become unpredictable, and people may frequently call in sick to work or school.
- They’ll often ignore other areas of life to fulfill or support their desires.
Understanding drug abuse and addiction
Your loved one may become defensive when asked about where they’ve been, what they’ve been doing, or who they’ve been hanging out with. They may especially become defensive if you ask them about drugs or addiction. Young signs of drug use children may swallow drugs by accident because of their curiosity about medications they may find. Children younger than age 5 (especially age 6 months to 3 years) tend to place everything they find into their mouth.
Many substances, especially when used heavily, impair the user’s ability to manage emotional input. This can appear as sudden misery, extreme upset, irritation, or anger in situations when they could previously handle their moods well. If a normally calm and collected person seems hyper and manic, or an optimist is dealing with sudden waves of depression, it could be a sign of drug abuse.
If the drug fulfills a valuable need, you may find yourself increasingly relying on it. You may take illegal drugs to calm or energize yourself or make you more confident. You may start abusing prescription drugs to relieve pain, cope with panic attacks, or improve concentration at school or work. If you are using drugs to fill a void in your life, you’re more at risk of crossing the line from casual drug use to drug abuse and addiction. To maintain a healthy balance in your life, you need to have positive experiences and feel good about your life without any drug use.
Daily routines and activities get rearranged or abandoned, and relationships with friends and loved ones come under stress. If you or someone you know is turning into someone unrecognizable, it could be a consequence of drug abuse, potentially indicating a substance use disorder or even multiple substance use disorders. The severity of addiction is only partially related to the amount of substance a person uses. The difference between mild and severe addiction is the number of the 11 DSM addiction criteria a person meets. The criteria relate to ability to control use, the negative impact use has on self and life, and the existence of physiological dependence.
