Addiction is a chronic illness that affects memory, motivation, and reward parts of the brain. A person addicted to a drug will continue using it regardless of its harmful effects. Recognizing addiction signs can help one seek addiction treatment and prevent long term effects of drug use.
There are various signs of addiction one can look out for in themselves or their loved ones to identify addicts. If you are noticing these signs of addiction in yourself or a loved one, you may want to consider treatment options from Wellness Counseling Vida Entera.
Physical Signs of Addiction
When a person regularly uses a drug, their body adapts to its presence. This tolerance influences a person to use a significant amount of a drug, increasing the side effects of the substance on the body. These effects impact physiological processes such as metabolism, causing visible changes in a drug user’s physical appearance. For instance, one can show physical signs of addiction like abrupt weight gain or loss and decreased physical hygiene.
Moreover, some drugs, such as cocaine, cause blood vessels to expand, leading to bloodshot eyes. Drug use can also overwhelm the body, resulting in habits such as hypersomnia or insomnia. Using drugs that involve chewing and smoking, such as marijuana and tobacco, can also lead to dental health problems.
Behavioral Signs of Addiction
Drug usage affects the mind and interferes with the ability of a person to reason or focus. So, one will display behavioral signs of addiction, such as increased irritability and abrupt habit changes. A person will also tend to avoid some family members and friends and prefer to interact with other drug users. Additionally, one may lack interest in some activities that were previously important to them.
Using drugs can influence an abuser to engage in activities that may cause legal problems. For instance, one can engage in criminal activities like breaking into unauthorized places. Some users often steal money from their loved ones to buy drugs. They may also fail to tend to crucial obligations, such as providing for their family. In some cases, one might knowingly drive while under the influence of drugs. A drug addict is also likely to display increased secrecy, whereby they lie to others about their drug use.
Find Treatment for Addiction at Wellness Counseling Vida Entera
Recognizing the behavioral and physical signs of addiction can help one seek treatment. This step will prevent adverse effects, such as brain damage and overdosing. Moreover, one can get help for the psychological effects of drug abuse, like depression. There is a wide variety of treatment programs to help in the recovery from addiction. Each of these programs has a customized treatment plan that meets a patient’s specific needs. For instance, dual diagnosis treatment is a plan that treats addiction alongside co-occurring mental conditions.
Other addiction treatment plans include:
- Intensive outpatient treatment
- Partial hospitalization program
- Residential treatment
- Medication-assisted treatment
- Gender-specific men’s and women’s detox
Addiction treatment centers also offer different types of therapy to improve their patient’s mental health. Such include motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral, and art therapy. These treatments can help a person identify the aspects that influence them to use drugs. This information is also crucial as it aids a person to maintain a sober life after completing treatment.
Showing the signs of addiction is a clear indicator that a person needs intervention for their behavior. At Wellness Counseling Vida Entera, we provide you with the medical and moral support you need to overcome addiction. All our addiction treatment programs include detox and rehabilitation for long term recovery.
Our therapists also educate our clients and their loved ones on identifying the signs of drug abuse. This measure helps ensure that one recognizes drug abuse before it escalates to addiction.
Contact us at 951.400.0082 to join our customized and effective treatment programs.
