Your once social and engaged teen may start isolating themselves, avoiding family interactions, and spending more time alone or with new, unfamiliar social circles. They may also experience a sudden drop in academic performance or loss of interest in hobbies they once enjoyed. If your child was passionate about sports, music, school, or spending time with friends but suddenly stops caring, it could indicate deeper struggles. Addiction and mental health challenges rarely resolve on their own, and waiting too long can allow struggles to deepen. Recognizing the signs early and seeking professional support can prevent further harm and help your loved one regain stability and hope. Other health problems like allergies, sinus infections, hormone imbalances, or mental disorders can also cause these symptoms in teens.
Signs of Drug Addiction in Adults
Addiction negatively impacts someone’s personal, professional, academic, and social life. Conditions Drug rehabilitation like allergies or infections can cause similar symptoms. However, when these changes occur alongside other physical or behavioral signs, it’s worth paying closer attention. If you’re concerned, treatment programs like those at Ikon Recovery Center provide thorough evaluations and care for both the physical and mental challenges of substance use. Understanding the signs of drug use, promoting healthy coping mechanisms, and providing access to support can reduce the risk of substance abuse.
For Schools
Party drugs, such as MDMA or ketamine, are often prevalent in nightlife and social scenes. Designer substances, like synthetic cannabinoids (Spice, K2) and synthetic cathinone (bath salts), pose a significant risk due to their unpredictable effects. The signs can vary based on the type of drug, length of use, and the person’s mental and physical health. However, many individuals struggling with addiction may hide their behavior or minimize its severity, often out of fear, shame, or denial. That’s why it’s important to look at the full picture and understand the warning signs that may indicate a deeper issue.
Social Signs: Identifying Friends and Family Members Who May Be Under the Influence
The normal signals for hunger and fullness may become disrupted, making it harder to maintain healthy eating habits – even during recovery. When that substance is suddenly unavailable, that absence leaves many brain operations exposed and interferes with the various functions. At some point, addiction becomes a trap of endless repetition that loses whatever allure it once held. As addiction progresses, the psychological and life problems it causes tend to increase—and the trap can feel too deep to climb out of. However, it is almost always possible to stop use and begin recovery. For example, instead of saying that someone is «an addict,» say «they are living with a substance use disorder.» Using this type of language helps destigmatize the disease.
Drug misuse can also lead to dark circles under the eyes, rashes, dry skin, uneven skin tone, and wrinkles. Heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine are known for killing skin cells altogether. Discover how suboxone treatment programs work, who qualifies, costs, and how to start your warning signs of drug use recovery with expert-backed guidance. Discover how at home suboxone treatment works, step-by-step protocols, safety tips, and benefits for opioid addiction recovery. Common drugs like Valium and Xanax are examples of benzodiazepines.
Nevertheless, there are specific factors that heighten an individual’s likelihood of developing an addiction. Encouragement from friends and family can significantly impact recovery outcomes. For more on the importance of a support system, read about the importance of a strong support system in recovery. Withdrawal symptoms from cocaine include restlessness, paranoia, and irritability. Using cocaine can lead to heart attacks, lung problems, strokes, seizures, and coma.
Problems are rated on a scale of 1 to 5 by domain, reflecting how bothered a person is by problems of that type. The ASI is typically used in gauging the type and intensity of treatment a person might need and as a measure of the success of treatment. There is an important distinction between drug addiction vs. drug dependence.
- With age-related memory issues, older adults may inadvertently take more than their prescribed dosage and develop a physical or psychological dependence.
- Don’t wait— reach out today to take the first step toward taking control of your life.
- The areas of the brain affected and changed by drug abuse are the same areas of the brain that control cognition and include learning, memory, and higher reasoning.
Getting Started
Withdrawal symptoms occur when drug use is abruptly stopped or the dosage is sharply diminished. A cardinal sign of addiction is not being unable to control consumption of alcohol/drug—even when wanting to. In addition, addiction is typically marked by urges or craving—wanting a substance so badly it becomes difficult to think about anything else. However, starting during childhood or adolescence islinked to an increased risk of dependenceon the substance, where they feel like they need the drug to function normally.
People who use drugs may struggle to focus on tasks, remember things, or process new information. These effects can be frustrating and can diminish a person’s ability to function at work or school. It can also lead to difficulties in social situations and cause relationship problems. Some drugs, like stimulants, can suppress appetite and cause weight loss. Other drugs like cannabis may increase appetite and lead to weight gain. Appetite changes can also be due to underlying disorders like depression or anxiety, which are common co-occurring disorders with drug use.
How to Help Someone Experiencing an Anxiety Attack
Other issues in relationships may include a lack of trust, abuse, enabling, and codependency. Addiction destroys trust with those who feel betrayed, like employers, teachers, friends, and family. We have the science- and research-backed information to help you help your child. People who struggle https://franciscocurras.com/2022/07/11/alcohol-drug-rehabs-in-kentucky/ with drug addiction may exhibit a pronounced lack of confidence in their skills, intellect, appearance, or other aspects of their lives. Due to the high cost of most illegal drugs, people may find themselves borrowing money on a regular basis.