Psychologically, a substance use disorder can lead to continued use despite other effects on health and an inability to stop using. A person might be obsessed with getting hold of a substance or partaking in their damaging activities. Addiction is a disease with a range of harmful conditions and behaviors. Recognizing these signs can help a person with addiction receive the treatment they need.
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Purposeful overdoses are for a desired effect, either to get high or to harm oneself. They occur when a person takes more than the medically recommended dose. There’s no cure, but treatment can help you stop using drugs and stay drug-free. Your treatment may include counseling, medicine, or both. While misconceptions surrounding substance use may lead you to believe that the condition is caused by a person’s behavior or lack of willpower, it’s important to keep in mind that that’s untrue. Biological factors beyond a person’s control play a major role.
Warning signs of commonly abused recreational drugs
This disrupts normal functions and may cause a deficit in memory. Because of the ups and downs involved with drug abuse, you may notice that this person is showing more depressive side effects, especially when they’re coming down from a high. 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.
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Someone who struggles with a substance use disorder may feel like a slave to their disease, unable to stop using drugs even when they attempt to. Feelings of hopelessness and despair may accompany withdrawal symptoms like extreme lethargy, which can cause someone to feel unmotivated or unable to overcome addiction. https://sober-home.org/what-are-the-effects-of-dmt-on-the-body/ Sometimes called the “opioid epidemic,” addiction to opioid prescription pain medicines has reached an alarming rate across the United States. Some people who’ve been using opioids over a long period of time may need physician-prescribed temporary or long-term drug substitution during treatment.
People can speak with a primary care doctor if they experience SUD symptoms or if they are concerned about a loved one who may have an SUD. Hallucinogenics, or psychedelics, are a group of drugs that alter someone’s perception of their thoughts and feelings as well as what’s around them. This article looks at what SUD involves and its symptoms and treatment options.
As of 2024, there are over 6.8 billion smartphone users in the world and within that population, 6.3% have a phone addiction. Research published by Virgin Mobile discovered that those billions of smartphone users receive 427% more messages and notifications than they did a decade ago. The rise in phone use seems like a natural necessity for modern life, however, it can also cause concern and negative consequences. The heavy use of these devices has consumers questioning their cellular habits. According to Google Trends, since 2004 searches for “cell phone addiction” have been rising. Find out as much as you can about their drug use—what substances they’re using, how often they’re using them, and how they’re getting them.
Signs and symptoms of substance use vary widely from person to person and depend on the substance, length and severity of use, and an individual’s personality. In the middle or later stages of an addiction, the negative effects will be more permanent or have long-term consequences. Someone with a serious addiction problem may allow, ignore, or trivialize these outcomes in favor of continuing their habits. It’s important to eliminate any potential medical reasons for someone’s health decline. Keep in mind that someone with an addiction will almost always understate the seriousness of their condition. If there’s no other explanation, then there’s an increased chance of an underlying addiction problem.
Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you’re addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.
Addiction involves both the mind and the body—and every other facet of existence, because they all interact. There is no real distinction between physical addiction and psychological addiction. Substances of abuse affect the reward system of the brain, mediated by the neurotransmitter dopamine. The physical changes https://sober-home.org/ to the pleasure-experiencing centers of the brain induce physical changes to the prefrontal cortex, weakening the capacity for decision-making and impulse control. When someone misuses drugs or alcohol, they may look and act in uncharacteristic ways. They may also think and feel differently than they normally do.
It is not always easy to recognize the signs of drug use. Some people with SUD engage in secretive behavior to hide their drug use. Healthcare providers may recommend cognitive and behavioral therapies alone or in combination with medications.
For a diagnosis of SUD, a person must meet a minimum of 2 out of 11 criteria from the DSM-5-TR over the course of 1 year. Healthcare professionals may perform a medical exam and take a medical history when diagnosing an SUD. However, it is important to note that not everyone who uses these substances may have an SUD.
- The following are some of the most common effects of drug addiction.
- ACEs are strongly related to the development of a wide range of health problems throughout a person’s lifespan, including SUD.
- Recognizing these signs and symptoms may be the first step toward recovery.
- If you suspect that a teenager is experiencing either, consult a pediatrician or mental health professional as soon as possible.
- The complications of substance use disorder are broad and may depend on the type of substance use.
They can help connect you to resources and support you in taking more decisive action, like drug testing. SUD is a health condition that leads to a strong desire to use a substance even though it may have adverse effects on a person’s life. People with SUD may use illegal or legal drugs, including prescription medications.
Thus, drug use causes changes in the brain that can result in a lack of self-control and poor decision-making and judgment. While different types of substances can cause various signs and symptoms, being addicted to any type of substance results in the same action on the addiction center in the brain. 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. Similarly, unemployment is a significant independent risk factor for substance use and for relapse after treatment.
These products may contain nicotine or other synthetic substances that damage the brain and lungs. The teenage brain is vulnerable to the harmful effects of nicotine, including anxiety and addiction. A study showed that 60% of teens in a community-based substance use treatment program were also diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Talk to the person about your concerns, and offer your help and support without being judgmental.
Still, it is acknowledged as a behavioral addiction by many medical professionals and researchers worldwide. According to several studies, over time, the devoted use of smartphones can alter and negatively impact an individual much like gambling. These warning signs do not necessarily mean a teen is using drugs.
