Signs, Symptoms, and Help for Drug Problems and Substance Abuse
Some people are able to use recreational or prescription drugs
without ever experiencing negative consequences or addiction. For many
others, substance use can cause problems at work, home, school, and in
relationships, leaving you feeling isolated, helpless, or ashamed.
If you’re worried about your own or a friend or
family member’s drug use, it’s important to know that help is available.
Learning about the nature of drug abuse and addiction—how it develops,
what it looks like, and why it can have such a powerful hold—will give
you a better understanding of the problem and how to best deal with it.
Understanding drug use, drug abuse, and addiction
People experiment with drugs for many different
reasons. Many first try drugs out of curiosity, to have a good time,
because friends are doing it, or in an effort to improve athletic
performance or ease another problem, such as stress, anxiety, or
depression. Use doesn’t automatically lead to abuse, and there is no
specific level at which drug use moves from casual to problematic. It
varies by individual. Drug abuse and addiction is less about the amount
of substance consumed or the frequency, and more to do with the consequences
of drug use. No matter how often or how little you’re consuming, if
your drug use is causing problems in your life—at work, school, home,
or in your relationships—you likely have a drug abuse or addiction
problem.
Why do some drug users become addicted, while others don’t?
As with many other conditions and diseases,
vulnerability to addiction differs from person to person. Your genes,
mental health, family and social environment all play a role in
addiction. Risk factors that increase your vulnerability include:
- Family history of addiction
- Abuse, neglect, or other traumatic experiences in childhood
- Mental disorders such as depression and anxiety
- Early use of drugs
- Method of administration—smoking or injecting a drug may increase its addictive potential
Drug addiction and the brain
Addiction is a complex disorder characterized by
compulsive drug use. While each drug produces different physical
effects, all abused substances share one thing in common: repeated use
can alter the way the brain looks and functions.
- Taking a recreational drug causes a surge in
levels of dopamine in your brain, which trigger feelings of pleasure.
Your brain remembers these feelings and wants them repeated.
- If you become addicted, the substance takes on the same significance as other survival behaviors, such as eating and drinking.
- Changes in your brain interfere with your ability
to think clearly, exercise good judgment, control your behavior, and
feel normal without drugs.
- Whether you’re addicted to inhalants, heroin,
Xanax, speed, or Vicodin, the uncontrollable craving to use grows more
important than anything else, including family, friends, career, and
even your own health and happiness.
- The urge to use is so strong that your mind finds
many ways to deny or rationalize the addiction. You may drastically
underestimate the quantity of drugs you’re taking, how much it impacts
your life, and the level of control you have over your drug use.
How drug abuse and addiction can develop
People who experiment with drugs continue to use them
because the substance either makes them feel good, or stops them from
feeling bad. In many cases, however, there is a fine line between
regular use and drug abuse and addiction. Very few addicts are able to
recognize when they have crossed that line. While frequency or the
amount of drugs consumed don’t in themselves constitute drug abuse or
addiction, they can often be indicators of drug-related problems.
- Problems can sometimes sneak up on you,
as your drug use gradually increases over time. Smoking a joint with
friends at the weekend, or taking ecstasy at a rave, or cocaine at an
occasional party, for example, can change to using drugs a couple of
days a week, then every day. Gradually, getting and using the drug
becomes more and more important to you.
- If the drug fulfills a valuable need, you
may find yourself increasingly relying on it. For example, you may
take drugs to calm you if you feel anxious or stressed, energize you if
you feel depressed, or make you more confident in social situations if
you normally feel shy. Or you may have started using prescription
drugs to cope with panic attacks or relieve chronic pain, for example.
Until you find alternative, healthier methods for overcoming these
problems, your drug use will likely continue.
- Similarly, if you use drugs to fill a void in your life,
you’re more at risk of crossing the line from casual use to drug abuse
and addiction. To maintain healthy balance in your life, you need to
have other positive experiences, to feel good in your life aside from
any drug use.
- As drug abuse takes hold, you
may miss or frequently be late for work or school, your job performance
may progressively deteriorate, and you start to neglect social or
family obligations. Your ability to stop using is eventually
compromised. What began as a voluntary choice has turned into a
physical and psychological need.
The good news is that with the right treatment and
support, you can counteract the disruptive effects of drug use and
regain control of your life. The first obstacle is to recognize and
admit you have a problem, or listen to loved ones who are often better
able to see the negative effects drug use is having on your life.
5 Myths about Drug Abuse and Addiction
MYTH 1: Overcoming addiction is a simply a matter of willpower. You can stop using drugs if you really want to. Prolonged
exposure to drugs alters the brain in ways that result in powerful
cravings and a compulsion to use. These brain changes make it extremely
difficult to quit by sheer force of will.
MYTH 2: Addiction is a disease; there’s nothing you can do about it. Most
experts agree that addiction is a brain disease, but that doesn’t mean
you’re a helpless victim. The brain changes associated with addiction
can be treated and reversed through therapy, medication, exercise, and
other treatments.
MYTH 3: Addicts have to hit rock bottom before they can get better. Recovery
can begin at any point in the addiction process—and the earlier, the
better. The longer drug abuse continues, the stronger the addiction
becomes and the harder it is to treat. Don’t wait to intervene until
the addict has lost it all.
MYTH 4: You can’t force someone into treatment; they have to want help.
Treatment doesn’t have to be voluntary to be successful. People who
are pressured into treatment by their family, employer, or the legal
system are just as likely to benefit as those who choose to enter
treatment on their own. As they sober up and their thinking clears, many
formerly resistant addicts decide they want to change.
MYTH 5: Treatment didn’t work before, so there’s no point trying again. Recovery
from drug addiction is a long process that often involves setbacks.
Relapse doesn’t mean that treatment has failed or that you’re a lost
cause. Rather, it’s a signal to get back on track, either by going back
to treatment or adjusting the treatment approach.
Signs and symptoms of drug abuse and drug addiction
Although different drugs have different physical
effects, the symptoms of addiction are similar. See if you recognize
yourself in the following signs and symptoms of substance abuse and
addiction. If so, consider talking to someone about your drug use.
Common signs and symptoms of drug abuse
- You’re neglecting your responsibilities at school, work, or home (e.g. flunking classes, skipping work, neglecting your children) because of your drug use.
- You’re using drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high, such as driving while on drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex.
- Your drug use is getting you into legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, or stealing to support a drug habit.
- Your drug use is causing problems in your relationships, such as fights with your partner or family members, an unhappy boss, or the loss of old friends.
Common signs and symptoms of drug addiction
- You’ve built up a drug tolerance. You need to use more of the drug to experience the same effects you used to attain with smaller amounts.
- You take drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. If
you go too long without drugs, you experience symptoms such as nausea,
restlessness, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking, and anxiety.
- You’ve lost control over your drug use. You
often do drugs or use more than you planned, even though you told
yourself you wouldn’t. You may want to stop using, but you feel
powerless.
- Your life revolves around drug use. You spend a lot of time using and thinking about drugs, figuring out how to get them, and recovering from the drug’s effects.
- You’ve abandoned activities you used to enjoy, such as hobbies, sports, and socializing, because of your drug use.
- You continue to use drugs, despite knowing it’s hurting you. It’s causing major problems in your life—blackouts, infections, mood swings, depression, paranoia—but you use anyway.
Warning signs that a friend or family member is abusing drugs
Drug abusers often try to conceal their symptoms and
downplay their problem. If you’re worried that a friend or family member
might be abusing drugs, look for the following warning signs:
Physical warning signs of drug abuse
- Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual
- Changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Sudden weight loss or weight gain
- Deterioration of physical appearance, personal grooming habits
- Unusual smells on breath, body, or clothing
- Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination
Behavioral signs of drug abuse
- Drop in attendance and performance at work or school
- Unexplained need for money or financial problems. May borrow or steal to get it.
- Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors
- Sudden change in friends, favorite hangouts, and hobbies
- Frequently getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities)
Psychological warning signs of drug abuse
- Unexplained change in personality or attitude
- Sudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts
- Periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness
- Lack of motivation; appears lethargic or “spaced out”
- Appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason
Warning Signs of Commonly Abused Drugs
- Marijuana: Glassy, red eyes;
loud talking, inappropriate laughter followed by sleepiness; loss of
interest, motivation; weight gain or loss.
- Depressants (including Xanax, Valium, GHB): Contracted pupils; drunk-like; difficulty concentrating; clumsiness; poor judgment; slurred speech; sleepiness.
- Stimulants (including amphetamines, cocaine, crystal meth):
Dilated pupils; hyperactivity; euphoria; irritability; anxiety;
excessive talking followed by depression or excessive sleeping at odd
times; may go long periods of time without eating or sleeping; weight
loss; dry mouth and nose.
- Inhalants (glues, aerosols, vapors): Watery
eyes; impaired vision, memory and thought; secretions from the nose or
rashes around the nose and mouth; headaches and nausea; appearance of
intoxication; drowsiness; poor muscle control; changes in appetite;
anxiety; irritability; lots of cans/aerosols in the trash.
- Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP): Dilated
pupils; bizarre and irrational behavior including paranoia,
aggression, hallucinations; mood swings; detachment from people;
absorption with self or other objects, slurred speech; confusion.
- Heroin: Contracted pupils; no
response of pupils to light; needle marks; sleeping at unusual times;
sweating; vomiting; coughing, sniffling; twitching; loss of appetite.
Warning signs of teen drug abuse
While experimenting with drugs doesn’t automatically
lead to drug abuse, early use is a risk factor for developing more
serious drug abuse and addiction. Risk of drug abuse also increases
greatly during times of transition, such as changing schools, moving,
or divorce. The challenge for parents is to distinguish between the
normal, often volatile, ups and downs of the teen years and the red
flags of substance abuse. These include:
- Having bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils; using eye drops to try to mask these signs
- Skipping class; declining grades; suddenly getting into trouble at school
- Missing money, valuables, or prescriptions
- Acting uncharacteristically isolated, withdrawn, angry, or depressed
- Dropping one group of friends for another; being secretive about the new peer group
- Loss of interest in old hobbies; lying about new interests and activities
- Demanding more privacy; locking doors; avoiding eye contact; sneaking around
Getting help for drug abuse and drug addiction
Finding help and support for drug addiction
- Visit a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in your area. See Resources & References below.
- Call 1-800-662-HELP in the U.S. to reach a free referral helpline from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Recognizing that you have a problem is the first step
on the road to recovery, one that takes tremendous courage and
strength. Facing your addiction without minimizing the problem or
making excuses can feel frightening and overwhelming, but recovery is
within reach. If you’re ready to make a change and willing to seek
help, you can overcome your addiction and build a satisfying, drug-free
life for yourself.
Support is essential to addiction recovery
Don’t try to go it alone; it’s all too easy to get
discouraged and rationalize “just one more” hit or pill. Whether you
choose to go to rehab, rely on self-help programs, get therapy, or take
a self-directed treatment approach, support is essential. Recovering
from drug addiction is much easier when you have people you can lean on
for encouragement, comfort, and guidance.
Support can come from:
- family members
- close friends
- therapists or counselors
- other recovering addicts
- healthcare providers
- people from your faith community
When a loved one has a drug problem
If you suspect that a friend or family member has a drug problem, here are a few things you can do:
- Speak up. Talk to the person
about your concerns, and offer your help and support, without being
judgmental. The earlier addiction is treated, the better. Don’t wait
for your loved one to hit bottom! Be prepared for excuses and denial by
listing specific examples of your loved one’s behavior that has you
worried.
- Take care of yourself. Don’t get
so caught up in someone else’s drug problem that you neglect your own
needs. Make sure you have people you can talk to and lean on for
support. And stay safe. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations.
- Avoid self-blame. You can support
a person with a substance abuse problem and encourage treatment, but
you can’t force an addict to change. You can’t control your loved one’s
decisions. Let the person accept responsibility for his or her
actions, an essential step along the way to recovery for drug
addiction.
But Don’t
- Attempt to punish, threaten, bribe, or preach.
- Try to be a martyr. Avoid emotional appeals that may only increase feelings of guilt and the compulsion to use drugs.
- Cover up or make excuses for the drug abuser, or shield them from the negative consequences of their behavior.
- Take over their responsibilities, leaving them with no sense of importance or dignity.
- Hide or throw out drugs.
- Argue with the person when they are high.
- Take drugs with the drug abuser.
- Feel guilty or responsible for another's behavior.
Adapted from: National Clearinghouse for Alcohol & Drug Information
When your teen has a drug problem
Discovering your child uses drugs can generate fear,
confusion, and anger in parents. It’s important to remain calm when
confronting your teen, and only do so when everyone is sober. Explain
your concerns and make it clear that your concern comes from a place of
love. It’s important that your teen feels you are supportive.
Five steps parents can take:
- Lay down rules and consequences.
Your teen should understand that using drugs comes with specific
consequences. But don’t make hollow threats or set rules that you
cannot enforce. Make sure your spouse agrees with the rules and is
prepared to enforce them.
- Monitor your teen’s activity.
Know where your teen goes and who he or she hangs out with. It’s also
important to routinely check potential hiding places for drugs—in
backpacks, between books on a shelf, in DVD cases or make-up cases, for
example. Explain to your teen that this lack of privacy is a
consequence of him or her having been caught using drugs.
- Encourage other interests and social activities. Expose your teen to healthy hobbies and activities, such as team sports and afterschool clubs.
- Talk to your child about underlying issues.
Drug use can be the result of other problems. Is your child having
trouble fitting in? Has there been a recent major change, like a move
or divorce, which is causing stress?
- Get Help. Teenagers often rebel
against their parents but if they hear the same information from a
different authority figure, they may be more inclined to listen. Try a
sports coach, family doctor, therapist, or drug counselor.
