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Substance abuse is a widespread problem in the United States. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 23.5 million people aged 12 or older needed treatment for a substance or alcohol abuse problem in 2009. And those numbers are only growing.
Addiction is a complex disease, and it’s difficult for many people to see the signs of substance abuse before it becomes an addiction. Here, we outline the common signs of drug abuse and the four stages of addiction to help you better understand what to look for if you’re worried that a loved one might have a substance use disorder.
Addiction, to both prescription and street drugs, is a growing problem in the United States. Here are some signs and symptoms to look out for when it comes to drug abuse and addiction:
In the beginning, people often feel in control of their substance use, but with each passing stage, they lose more of their power and control. It’s possible to treat substance abuse at any point, but it’s much easier to do when someone is in the early stages of addiction.
Although each person experiences things differently, most people who suffer from a substance use disorder tend to follow a similar path. The four stages of drug addiction are as follows:
The first time a person tries drugs or alcohol, it’s often out of curiosity. Maybe they heard about the drug from a friend or are just curious about the effects of the drug. Alone, experimentation doesn’t appear abusive, but even a single episode of experimentation can result in harm to oneself or others. For some people, drug use stops here, but for others, it’s only the start of a lifelong substance abuse disorder and the struggle to stay sober.
Experimental drug use becomes regular drug use when you start to incorporate the drug into your usual routine. For example, if you use Adderall every time you need to stay up late and study for an exam or take Percocet without a prescription every time your old back injury flares up, you’ve developed a pattern of regular use.
While you haven’t yet become reliant on the drug, you’ve started training your brain to respond to the rewards for using the drug. Rewards include pain relief, stress reduction, weight loss, relaxation in social situations, or a pleasurable high.
At this stage, non-problematic drug use becomes a serious problem. Your drug use may begin to affect your job performance, relationships, or your daily life overall. Drugs may begin to affect your judgment, prompting you to do things you would have never considered in the past.
In this stage, many people become aware that they have a problem when something bad happens as a result of their habit. At this point, people either respond to the negative consequences by cutting down or stopping use while others completely ignore the warning signs and continue to abuse the drug.
With continued use, many people will develop an addiction to drugs. Addiction occurs when the substances cause changes to the mind, body, and behavior. As a result of the disease, people with substance use disorders are unable to control their substance use despite the negative consequences that occur as a result. Addiction is considered a chronic, relapsing brain disease, but it’s also treatable.
Although addiction is a powerful disease, recovery is possible. If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance use disorder, the best thing you can do is to seek treatment from a trusted, experienced professional.
At The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake, we offer a variety of treatment programs that help address substance abuse and addiction. Our programs will not only help you get through detox, but they’ll also help you address the underlying causes of your addiction so you can live a happy, fulfilled life in recovery. If you’re ready to take the next step, contact us today.
Drug Addiction Symptoms. (2014, December 5). Retrieved December 08, 2016, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/basics/symptoms/con-20020970
Signs of Drug Addiction. (n.d.). Retrieved December 08, 2016, from http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/signs-of-drug-addiction
The Psychological Warning Signs of Drug Abuse. (n.d.). Retrieved December 08, 2016, from http://www.psyarticles.com/substance-misuse/warning-signs-of-drug-abuse.htm
The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers.
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