Warning Signs of Substance Use Disorder National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers

They often treat muscle spasms, anxiety disorders, and sleep problems. Certain prescription stimulants treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. People who abuse these drugs can easily become addicted or dependent on them. A substance use disorder can be considered mild, moderate, or severe based on the number of symptoms a person exhibits within a 12-month period. While misconceptions surrounding substance use may lead you to believe that the condition is caused by a person’s behavior or lack of willpower, it’s important to signs of drug use keep in mind that that’s untrue.

Effects & Risks of Commonly Abused Drugs

They may have difficulty remembering details of important appointments or blatantly ignore pressing deadlines or obligations. Clinically important medical product safety alerts and timely information about amphetamine addiction treatment the products you use, prescribe, or dispense every day. Certain substances may lead to drowsiness and slow breathing, while others may cause insomnia, paranoia, or hallucinations.

• History and physical examination of individuals with addiction vary depending on the type of addiction, substance ingested, time since ingestion, and route.
• It’s important to note that substance abuse often leads to isolation.
• Recognizing these physical signs can provide clues to the specific drug being used and aid in determining the appropriate course of action.
• Watching for these signs in loved ones, such as changes in appearance, secretiveness, or financial troubles, can help identify substance abuse problems.
• The evidence is quite clear on the long-term effects of drug dependence, with those diagnosed dying 22.5 years earlier than those without the diagnosis.
• According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the following criteria are used to diagnose a mild, moderate or severe substance use disorder.
• Since many cocaine users snort it, someone who is abusing cocaine will likely suffer from nosebleeds, a decreased sense of smell, and damaged nostrils.

Illegal Drug Addiction

Whether the SUD is due to alcohol, stimulants, or opioids, the rewarding feeling gained from use — involving an abnormally high dopamine release — is often overpowering. It is important to note that mood swings and erratic behavior can be caused by factors other than drug use. However, when combined with other signs of drug use, these behaviors may raise concerns and warrant further investigation.

• Many adolescents and young adults radically increase their alcohol consumption during the holidays to dangerous levels known as “high-intensity drinking.”
• As a result, those who are addicted to alcohol should never attempt to stop drinking on their own; medical detox is required.
• If someone misuses drugs or alcohol, they may exhibit numerous physical signs of drug abuse.

Side Effects of Heroin Abuse

If you think your loved one is abusing drugs, it’s important to get help early. By having an early intervention, you can improve their chances of a successful recovery. Illicit drugs are known for their psychoactive properties or ability to alter brain function. When you misuse these drugs, you’ll experience changes in mood, level of awareness, thoughts, and feelings. Drugs like cocaine, heroin, and crystal meth are available in powder form. BetterHelp can connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor.

If someone has symptoms of an SUD, they can talk with their healthcare professional. In many instances, SUD occurs alongside another mental health condition. Inhalants include volatile substances that produce chemicals, which a person can inhale to produce mind-alerting effects. Substances may be illegal or legal, such as prescription medication. In =https://ecosoberhouse.com/ the United States, alcohol is the most commonly misused substance by people with SUD. The severity of SUD symptoms and their impact on a person’s life can vary.

Signs and symptoms of prescription drug abuse

• Unusually clumsy to the point of stumbling into furniture and walls, tripping over their own feet and knocking things over?
• You get defensive or belligerent with loved ones or colleagues who want to know what’s going on; they notice peculiarities about your behavior or appearance that you are not likely to recognize.
• Heroin is a Schedule I drug, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), because it offers no medical benefit.
• If you believe that your loved one may be dealing with substance abuse or drug addiction, reaching out to them is the best way to start a conversation help.
• Substance abuse can be overcome, and the odds of long-term recovery increase when a person seeks help through a professionally trained recovery center.
• Many people struggling with an addiction have some interaction with the law at some point in their life.

Increased drug abuse can lead to anxiety or paranoia, especially if the drug has left their system and they are experiencing withdrawal. When drug use becomes a priority in someone’s life, hygiene and outward appearance may become less and less important. Some may forget they haven’t taken care of themselves because of the mental effects of their drug use.

Addiction can reveal itself in physical signs, as well as psychological and behavioral ones, although they are not diagnostically specific for the condition. Substance users may have dilated pupils or glazed eyes, slurred speech, and ramble when they talk. They can show changes in movement patterns—depending on the type of substance involved, psychomotor retardation (heroin) or jumpiness (cocaine). Substances users often become so preoccupied with getting and using that they forego eating and suddenly lose weight. Another sign of addiction is a shift in sleep and wake patterns—sleeping too much or too little, or at unusual times.