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How To Tell If Someone Is Addicted To Drugs

Frequent Sniffing Or Runny Nose

How To Know If Someone Is Addicted To Drugs or Alcohol (2020)

Snorting cocaine is hard on the nostrils, nasal passages and sinuses.

Thats why other signs of cocaine use are touching or wiping the nose frequently and excessive sniffing. Someone who is using cocaine often has a perpetually runny nose but shows no other signs of allergies or a cold.

And if the cocaine use is heavy or has been prolonged, there might be frequent nosebleeds or even a complete lack of smell.

Next Steps Towards Recovery

Its important to have quick access to treatment. If you or someone you know has an addiction, call 1-800-622-4357 for free and confidential treatment referral and information from SAMHSA. You can also seek help from your doctor, local treatment center, or support group.

Addictions often affect many areas of a persons life. The most effective treatments are comprehensive. They often have several steps that vary from person to person. These steps can include detoxification, behavioral counseling, and long-term follow-up.

Here are some ways you can support a friend or family members recovery process:

  • Learn more about the substance or behavior dependency and the treatment.
  • Stay involved, like offering to go to meetings with them.
  • Provide a sober and trigger-free setting.
  • Speak up and express concern when there is a relapse.

While you can treat addiction, in most cases, someone with addiction must want to change for recovery to be successful.

Dangers Of Teen Marijuana Addiction

Research has examined how . Though findings are mixed, many experts acknowledge there are potential negative effects of weed on developing brains.

Some studies suggest that teenagers who use marijuana frequently may experience short-term effects such as problems with memory, learning, coordination, and judgment.

A large cohort study followed nearly 4,000 young adults over a 25-year period into mid-adulthood. It found that although cumulative lifetime exposure to marijuana is associated with lower verbal memory test scores, exposure did not affect other cognitive abilities like processing speed or executive function.

There are also potential long-term effects. Some studies suggest an association between regular marijuana use in teens and “altered connectivity and reduced volume of specific brain regions.”

However, other studies have found that the differences in brain structure between those who use marijuana and those who don’t could be attributed to “predispositional factors,” including genetics. More research is needed on the direct effect marijuana has on the brain, while taking into consideration the many variables such as frequency of use, genetics, environment, and more.

Read Also: How To Stop Junk Food Addiction

Want To Know How To Tell If Someone Is Using Drugs Consider These Tips From White Sands Treatment Center

Do you know how to tell if someone is using drugs? Do you suspect your loved one of using drugs, but you arent sure? Drug abuse and addiction do have telltale signs, and once you know what they are you will know how to identify a drug addict. Some drugs create more apparent signs and symptoms, but drug abuse and addiction do reveal many things about the drug user that should serve as red flags. If you notice that your loved one has a few of the following signs and symptoms, it may be time to sit down and have a real heart to heart talk with them before its too late.

How To Tell If Someone Is On Drugs

How to Tell if Someone is on Heroin &  Addicted

by OTR Staff | May 20, 2020 | Addiction Treatment, Portland Drug Rehab, Substance Abuse Treatment

Are you worried about someone you care for, but youre not sure how to tell whether they have a problem? It can be hard to know how to tell if someone is on drugs and what signs to look for when you suspect a family member or friend is struggling with chemical dependency.

Thankfully, there are some trusted ways to tell if someone you love is on drugs. There are even signs that can indicate which drug they may be abusing.

Recommended Reading: How To Beat Food Addiction

Take Care Of Yourself Along The Way

When someone you care about is struggling with an alcohol use disorder, it can be frustrating and stressful, especially when they do not seek help as quickly as you would like them to. We often think we know what is best for the people we love and we want to help in any way we can. The reality of the situation is that you cant force them to get help. They have to choose to do so on their own.

What you can do is provide them with resources and support. You can show them how much you care and want them to get help. And, you can take care of yourself by seeking counseling to manage your stress and frustration over the situation. Getting help from a counselor will allow you to be as emotionally strong and supportive as you can be for your loved ones during their time of need.

If you feel that you need extra support during these difficult times, the counseling staff at The Summit Wellness Group is here to help. Call us 24/7 at 770-299-1677.

Understanding Drug Use And Addiction Drugfacts

Many people don’t understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs. They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to. Fortunately, researchers know more than ever about how drugs affect the brain and have found treatments that can help people recover from drug addiction and lead productive lives.

Also Check: What Is The Addiction Severity Index

How Drug Use Starts

For some individuals, substance abuse begins when they start socially experimenting with various substances. This can be the case with drugs such as amphetamines, alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs.

Opioid abuse can begin differently. People who become addicted to opioids are often prescribed prescription drugs, such as painkillers, often following something like an accident or surgery. They can then start taking higher doses of those prescription drugs, which can lead to abuse. They may also seek cheaper forms of opioids, such as heroin. Overall, 75% of heroin users report that the first opioid they took was a prescription drug.

When someone begins using drugs of any kind, they may start feeling as if they need larger and more frequent doses to get the same effects, even with something that started as social experimentation. This is called tolerance.

Drug use can start at any age. However, starting during childhood or adolescence is linked to an increased risk of dependence on the substance, where they feel like they need the drug to function normally.

Warning Signs Of Addiction

Recognizing Addiction: How to Tell if Someone is Addicted to Alcohol or Drugs

Addictions begin with experimentation with a substance. There are many reasons someone might initially try a drug: curiosity, peer pressure, stress, and problems at work or home being some of them.

If you are concerned someone you care about is struggling with addiction, there are several red flags you can look for. However, its important to remember everyone is different it may be harder to detect an addiction in some people than in others. That being said, here are some general warning signs to be aware of:

  • Ignoring commitments or responsibilities
  • Staying up later than usual or sleeping in longer
  • Lapses in concentration or memory
  • Being oddly secretive about parts of personal life
  • Withdrawal from normal social contacts
  • Sudden mood swings and changes in behavior
  • Unusual lack of motivation
  • Weight loss or changes in physical appearance

No one expects to develop an addiction when they begin experimenting. But continued experimentation can lead to addiction, often without the person realizing they have become addicted until they try to stop.

Read Also: Why Am I Addicted To Alcohol

What Are The Risk Factors For Addiction

Many factors, including genes and environment, can influence whether a person develops a drug or alcohol addiction. Some of these factors are well-known and others are still being studied. The question of what causes a person to turn to drugs or alcohol in the first place is a complex one with many variables that depend on the individual. But regardless, not everyone who uses substances develops an addiction. Certain risk factors increase the likelihood of drug use progressing to a substance use disorder. For example, early drug exposure is a major risk factor in the development of drug and alcohol addiction. So is smoking or injecting a drug, as opposed to taking a pill.4

The risk factors for developing a drug or alcohol addiction may include:1,4

  • Lack of parental supervision
  • Childhood trauma, such as neglect or abuse
  • Mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression

Changes To Usual Behavior

Drugs can also change personalities and behaviors, or make people act in ways that they normally dont. At first, these behaviors may happen infrequently so it may be hard to notice them. Over time though, they may occur more regularly as drug usage increases.

  • Spending more time alone

  • Losing interest in favorite hobbies or usual activities

  • Not taking care of appearances

  • Having mood swings or being more irritable, tired, or sad

  • Sleeping for longer or less, or at different hours than normal

  • Eating more or eating less than usual

  • Missing appointments or forgetting to do things they normally do

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Problems In Different Areas Of Life

Signs of addiction can surface in different areas of a persons life. If a persons psychological dependence drives them to illegally obtain and use drugs, they may be subject to legal consequences. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency maintains a list of illicit substances and the legal consequences for people who use them.7

Other areas of your loved ones life that addiction can impact include.4,5

  • Work
  • Participation in hobbies or other valued activities

Common Behavioral And Psychological Signs A Person Is On Drugs

How to Tell if Someone is Addicted to Painkillers

While there certainly tend to be some physical symptoms present when someone is on drugs, its also important to look for signs of substance abuse that are behavioral and psychological.

  • One of the first signs of drug abuse and addiction thats often noticed by other people are changes in behavior that cant be attributed to any other reason. General and sudden personality shifts may indicate someone is on drugs or abusing drugs.
  • Another one of the first signs of drug abuse is often a change in attendance or performance at school or work.
  • Secretiveness can indicate someone is abusing drugs.
  • If youre looking for common signs of drug abuse, youll often see changes in the people they hang out with or the hobbies they participate in suddenly.
  • Attitudes that seem combative or defensive, as well as moodiness or irritability may reflect drug abuse.
  • Dishonesty, a lack of motivation, paranoia, anxiety or nervousness, or outbursts are all behavioral signs of substance abuse in many cases.
  • Lack of interest in social interactions tends to become prevalent in people who are using drugs, as can an overall sense of apathy and disinterest in friends, family, activities and interests the person held before abusing drugs.

As someones drug addiction continues, it often becomes more severe, and their behavior will be almost entirely focused on obtaining their next dose of drugs, and maintaining their high.

Some of the signs of misuse of the most common drugs include:

Recommended Reading: How To Help With Video Game Addiction

What Can I Do About My Drug Use

If you take drugs regularly and you have some of the signs listed here, its important that you talk to a doctor or a mental health professional as soon as you can. Continuing to take drugs might seem like the only way to feel better, but it can lead to some pretty serious consequences, including ongoing mental and physical health issues, or even death.

Recognising the problem is the first step in getting help for addiction. No one can force another person to undergo treatment for a problem they dont believe they have.

Talk to a doctor or a health professional

Try using ReachOut NextStep which will guide you through a few key questions and help you find the support that’s right for you.

Dont go cold turkey

It might seem easier to just stop taking drugs and to manage withdrawal on your own, but this is actually the most difficult way to go about it. It can also be physically dangerous, depending on the drug and level of addiction. If you dont feel comfortable talking to a health professional, start with a trusted friend or family member.

If you’re looking for more info on individual types of drugs, check out Your Room’s A-Z of Drugs.

Remember that if you do have a drug problem, the first step in overcoming it is to acknowledge it. You’ll find plenty of support services that can help you here, and you can filter by type of service and location.

While We All Know That Addiction To Alcohol And Other Drugs Is A Common Problem The Problem Becomes Much More Real When It Happens To Our Loved One

Many people, most often the high school and college-aged, experiment with drinking and trying different drugs. This is usually considered somewhat normal or expected, but it can lead to more serious issues, including academic difficulties, career problems, criminal offenses, health complications, and addiction. All of these troubles can hound a person as they move through life, affecting their lives and the lives of those who love them. So when does experimentation or a phase become truly disconcerting? At what point should a parent, sibling, or other close friend worry that their loved one is in serious trouble with drug abuse? In other words, how do you know if someone is addicted to drugs?

Read Also: Can You Get Addicted To Smoking Paper

What Are Physical Signs Of Drug Abuse

Some of the most noticeable symptoms of drug use are those that affect certain physiological processes. For example, your bodys tolerance to a drug develops when a drug is used long or often enough that it adapts to the consistently elevated presence of the substance. When tolerance grows, increased quantities or strengths are required to achieve the previous effects.1

Individuals using a drug to get high may come to take such large doses to overcome their tolerance that they place themselves at increasing risk of potentially fatal overdose.3

Changes in appearance can be additional clues to possible drug use and may include:4

  • Bloodshot or glazed eyes.

How Can I Tell If Someone Is Addicted To Drugs And Needs Help

How to tell if a loved one is addicted to drugs in prison

How Can I Tell if Someone is Addicted to Drugs and Needs Help?

Usually if you have been living with a person addicted to drugs you know what it looks like and you know what it feels like. Sometimes though if the person using is more adept they are able to hide the signs a bit better. If you want to know for sure how to tell if someone is addicted to drugs and needs help here are some basic guidelines and things you can look for.

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What Happens If You Drink Every Day

It goes without saying that alcoholism is dangerous and can have severe effects on a persons health. Alcohol abuse can lead to serious health complications. It can put a persons life at risk.

Alcohol can affect many different organs of the body, and not just the liver. Addicted individuals may suffer from stroke, fatty liver disease , cirrhosis, arrhythmias, fibrosis, and weakened immune system.

It also affects a persons mental health. Addicted individuals may suffer from worsened mental health. These mental health effects go hand in hand with the physical symptoms. They may experience symptoms such as depression, anxiety, cravings, irritability, sleep disorders, and panic attacks.

If you drink every day for a long period of time, you will eventually experience some serious diseases caused by long term alcohol abuse. It will damage your heart, liver, kidneys, vascular system, and your gastrointestinal tract. These damages may contribute to the development of chronic diseases.

Here are some of the diseases associated with chronic alcohol abuse: cardiovascular disease, anemia, cancer, cirrhosis, depression, gout, dementia, high blood pressure, seizures, pancreatitis, and nerve damage.

Understanding Why Addiction Leads To Lying

  • 1Consider whether your loved one is in denial about a drug problem. They may think the drug use is just a good time or nothing to worry about so it might be easy to lie away the behavior. The lies may even start out as a way to somehow protect the person being lied to from worrying or overreacting since they do not see the problems associated with the drug use.XResearch source
  • 2Determine if the person thinks they are invincible. Someone who abuses drugs may sometimes believe that they are exempt from the negative consequences of drug use. Often, someone using drugs does not see the full effect the drugs have on the body and ones health, or the people around them. Your loved one may lie about the behavior because they don’t think negative consequences like overdose or legal troubles could happen.
  • The need for the drug often clouds the fear of getting caught buying illegal drugs, stealing to obtain drugs or even taking risky chances in the name of the next high. They may not see things like stealing to sell items to buy drugs as a real crime because they are not physically hurting anyone.
  • They may also not consider the risks of sharing needles or having sex for drugs with other drug users as a way to get exposed to HIV, Hepatitis or other infections. These consequences of drugs use can be almost shocking to them.
  • They may also not understandor want to acknowledgethe strain the drug use puts of personal relationships and family bonds.
  • Also Check: Why Should Drug Addicts Be Helped

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