Drug and alcohol problems are all around us. It’s likely that someone close to you is facing a struggle with substance abuse, and you may not even know it. Sometimes the key trigger in getting help is the concern of a loved one. Before you can help a loved one, you need to know the signs of drug addiction.
Those signs aren’t always easy to see. But knowing what to look for can help give you the impetus to encourage a loved one to seek addiction treatment. Worrying that a loved one has a substance use disorder? You are doing the right thing in educating yourself about the costs.
What Is Addiction?
Is someone who takes drugs or drinks too much automatically suffering from an addiction? Not necessarily. Addiction is a complicated psychological disorder that leads to changes in behaviors that ultimately end up causing significant lifestyle problems. And in the face of those problems, the individual continues with their use of drugs and alcohol.
The danger of addiction is it marks a point when the drugs or alcohol have so altered brain chemistry that the body has come to depend on the substance for existence. When the individual tries to stop, they suffer from withdrawal symptoms.
The reality of addiction is often unlike what you see portrayed on television or in movies. It is an insidious disorder that creeps up on a person and then dominates their lives. Knowing the signs of drug addiction can help keep your loved one safe.
How to Identify Signs of Drug Addiction in Your Loved One
Substance abuse is a tricky disorder that skews judgment. A person who is struggling with addiction may become adept at hiding their problems. But the longer it goes on, the more likely that the problems get noticed. Here are a few signs of drug addiction in your loved one:
- Losing interest in things that once made them happy
- Having relationship problems with family, friends, and significant others
- Performance difficulties at work or school
- Excessive sleeping or sleep disruptions
- Changes in appearance or in hygiene
- Re-ordering their lives around the drug
One or more of these signs may suggest your loved one has a substance use disorder and may need addiction treatment.
Treatment Once You’ve Noticed Signs of Drug Addiction
Once you’ve identified signs of drug addiction in your loved one, now you need to decide how to talk about it with them. It’s not an easy step but having the knowledge of what treatment entails will help. Here’s what to expect:
- Assessment – Addiction treatment starts with a thorough physical and psychological workup
- Planning – Using that information, doctors will develop a treatment plan that will serve as your roadmap through the process
- Drug and alcohol detox – During this process, harmful substances leave the system under medical supervision
- Counseling – Your loved one will sit down with a trained therapist to discuss your problems and build new coping skills
- Aftercare – In this stage, you are provided resources to help you reduce the risk of relapse
The treatment of a substance use disorder is often triggered by the care and concern of a loved one who recognizes the signs of drug addiction.
If You See Signs of Drug Addiction in a Loved One, Contact Us
It’s painful to watch your loved one struggle with substance abuse. But showing you care is crucial in their recovery and moving them into the phase of treatment and rehab. Let Wellness Counseling Vida Entera help bring peace, hope, and sobriety to your life and that of your loved one. We provide a full range of substance abuse services including detox, counseling, and aftercare.
Our professional staff is well-versed in evidence-based addiction medicine. You can expect treatment to take place in a safe, comfortable, and confidential facility. Wellness Counseling Vida also offers dual-diagnosis treatment for co-occurring disorders.
Reclaim your future today. Reach out to Wellness Counseling Vida Entera by calling 951.400.0082 or contact us online for an initial confidential counseling session.
