10 Signs You May Have A Substance Abuse Problem

Everyone is different, as are their experiences with substance use or addiction.

Despite the fact, several signs that indicate drug or alcohol abuse are still common in all of them.

Here is the list:

• I look for drugs more than often
• Neglecting responsibilities
• Isolate behaviors
• Change in appearance
• Rapid and constant mood swings
• Sleeping habits
• Withdrawal symptoms
• Unpredictable behavior
• Intense desire
• Financial problems

If someone is experiencing one or more of the signs from the list above, finding the right treatment is your priority.

Most of these treatments begin with a clinical setting called a detox or detox, followed by inpatient or outpatient programs. It ends with a comprehensive aftercare.

What is substance abuse?

On the surface, the concept of substance abuse is simple – it is dependence on an addictive substance, which is usually drugs or alcohol.

If we dig a little deeper, this notion of excessive indulgence with certain substances is terrifying. When a person's drug or alcohol use reaches the point of abuse, it must be stopped. The perpetrator needs to first identify the problem and then figure out how to deal with it.

Technically, substance abuse can be defined as the psychological or physical desire to continue using certain substances even if they are harmful and dangerous.

Remember that not all substance use cases can be considered substance abuse. While abuse is a collection of multiple factors, not every drug use case needs to be addressed.

Identifying the first signs of substance abuse

It is quite difficult to spot the tell-tale signs of a full blown addiction in the early stages. However, you can count on some of the following:

• Find places where the fabric is available
• Family history of addiction
• Be drawn to the substance
• experiment

Drinking and smoking are always treated as social behavior that makes it difficult to know whether it is a normal or a substance abuse problem. Experimentation is when someone has started using a substance to manage stress.

Signs can be mild at first; However, if this problem is not corrected, it can become debilitating medical problems that can be extremely dangerous.

The good news is – substance abuse can be treated. The most common treatment plans for this problem are drug rehabilitation and support groups. However, such treatments are always tailored to the needs of an individual.

You can contact our Southern California Recovery Center to learn more if you or someone you love shows signs of alcoholism or substance abuse.

In such cases, it is recommended that you act quickly as the chances are that you will lead the way to addiction.

Top 10 Signs of Substance Abuse Disorder

Photo credit: Unsplash

Individuals facing drug or alcohol abuse problems may have one or more of the following signs:

1. Drug addiction behavior: The user spends most of their day and energy finding, using and enjoying drugs.
2. Neglecting responsibilities: If the person chooses drugs or alcohol based on their work, class, or other personal commitments, they are likely an abuser.
3. Isolate behavior: Drug users isolate themselves over time to hide their addiction from family and friends. This may be due to depression, perceived stigma, paranoia, or anxiety that arise as a result of their substance abuse.
4. Change in appearance: Constant abuse of alcohol or drugs can lead to serious changes in the user's appearance. It affects appetite and the culprit can gain weight or lose weight quickly.
5. Rapid and constant mood swings: Offenders can sometimes get ultra-hyper or out of control. Or some can become extremely depressed in no time.
6. Sleeping habits: Drug or alcohol abuse can affect your sleeping habits. The possible indicators are – overslept, staying up late, observing irregular hours.
7. Withdrawal symptoms: When the user abruptly reduces or completely stops drug use, withdrawal symptoms appear. This happens as the body gets used to the drugs or alcohol until you decide to stop it.
8. Unpredictable behavior: This is caused by withdrawal symptoms and can be extremely dangerous. If the user takes substance during such times, it can aggravate the behavior and lead to some serious mental disorders. Experts consider this to be the most common sign of substance abuse.
9. Intense desire: Drug addicts often crave for their type of drug. This is one of the central characteristics of addiction and is medically defined as the conscious and unconscious desire to want the drug or alcohol.
10. Financial problems: Offenders spend a significant amount of their money on drugs. Ultimately, they empty their bank accounts and run out of money to buy more drugs. This can be a major red flag for substance abuse, and it can have serious consequences.

Final thoughts

No matter how severe the drug problem, there are treatments for it. Unfortunately, many see rehab as a shameful thing. In reality it isn't. It's just medical treatment.

While these 10 signs reflect addiction or substance abuse, they are not a measure of the extent of the abuse. However, one thing is crystal clear. If the substance abuse case is severe, rehab is the only route to full recovery.

If you are brave enough and ready to face the truth of your substance abuse problem, contact us. We are happy to help and bring you back out of this dark tunnel.

About the author:

Jack was a victim of addiction at age 12. Today he is dedicated to healing people who are faced with the same problems that he once faced. Apart from being the chief executive officer at Renaissance recovery. Jack takes on several other roles in the company. He is known for working with clients who have helped them build a strong and solid foundation for recovery.