How To Identify Drug Addiction Symptoms
One in ten Americans over the age of twelve is struggling with an active alcohol or drug addiction symptoms. This is the size of the entire population of Texas. Heroin and opioid addictions are the most prevalent in America, and deaths related to overdoses from these addictive substances have increased over 300% since 2012.
The cost of drug addiction to families, society, and the country as a whole, is staggering. Drug addiction has ravaged entire communities, wrecking local economies, burdening law enforcement, and orphaning innocent children.
Understanding the signs and symptoms of drug addiction, especially in the beginning, can be crucial to getting people the help and treatment they need before the effects become devastating. The following article will list common symptoms of drug addiction and give a more detailed analysis of addiction symptoms related to specific substances.
Who Is At Risk?
Drug addiction symptoms, much like addiction itself, do not discriminate. Men, women, old and young people, and persons across socioeconomic lines can all become addicted. But there are certain risk factors that increase an individual’s chances of developing an addiction.
Genetics
There is a genetic component to drug addiction. Studies have found that persons with at least one close relative with an addiction problem are at higher risk to developing a drug addiction themselves.
Environment
Environment refers to either the community someone is involved in, or their family of origin. People who are raised or otherwise living in an environment or family situation where there is active drug addiction are at an increased risk of falling into the same pattern.
Poverty
Growing up or living in poverty contributes to an increased risk of developing an addiction. Also, people in lower socioeconomic brackets do not have as much margin for error as wealthier individuals. While someone in the middle or upper class can more easily access therapy and rehabilitation, and handle legal woes, someone in poverty cannot.
Comorbidity
People who suffer from mental health disorders are at an increased risk of becoming addicted, either to legal or illegal drugs. Mental health disorders can cause an individual to self-medicate. Self-medication can worsen the mental health disorder, and comorbid drug addiction is harder to treat.
What are active drug addiction symptoms?
There are three components to drug addiction symptomatology. There are behavioral, emotional, and physical signs and symptoms. Different drugs will present with different sets of symptoms and these will be indicated, but most symptoms will be stable across different substances.
Behavioral Symptoms
- Missing work, school, or other important events or engagements
- Social withdrawal, isolation, or secretiveness about whereabouts and activities
- Changes in sleeping patterns
- Legal problems
- Increased interpersonal strife
- Sudden, unexplained spending habits or financial problems
Emotional Symptoms
- Irritability and argumentativeness
- Loss of interest in activities, friends and family
- Acting inappropriate, or obnoxious and childish
- Appears easily confused
- When confronted, offers strange excuses, justifications, and rationalizations for their behavior
- Blame-shifting and diversion
Amphetamines or ‘uppers,’ like cocaine and meth, can make even the most docile person hostile and agitated. Also, when a user starts to come down from a high, they can lash out or become angry. To an outsider, the changes in their personality can be distressing. Any drug addiction will cause marked changes to someone’s personality.
If they do not deny behavior when confronted, they may engage in minimization, offering only superficial excuses, and/or not fully admitting to how serious their behavior and its consequences are.
