Addiction: Symptoms, Effects, and What to Look For

Substance abuse problems is serious problem. While the experience is different for every person, addiction generally affects the physical and psychological processes. If you suspect that someone in your family or circle of friends is struggling with addiction, then knowing the symptoms, effects, and other indications of what you need to look for will be of tremendous help to you.

Secretiveness

Keeping secrets isn’t exclusive to one having addiction problems. However, if someone is taking on more and more of the drugs, that person’s first instinct is usually to hide what’s happening. The person might already have an inkling that taking on the drug that frequently or in that dosage isn’t the norm. That’s why s/he conceals his or her growing addiction from family and friends.

Lying
Again, lying isn’t a symptom of addiction. However, lying, coupled with the rest of the symptoms on this list, is a strong indication that the person is dealing with substance abuse. Also, if the person is lying to cover up the habit or to deny any wrongdoing committed (stealing money to fund the drug habit), then that tells you that your friend has addiction problems. Get him or her enrolled into a drug rehab in Florida as soon as possible.

Changes in Appetite

Depending on the drug that the person abused, s/he could have drastic weight loss or gain. That's another symptom that you’ll want to watch out for. If diet and exercise can’t explain the weight loss, then it might be time to entertain the possibility that someone you love is struggling with drug abuse and that someone needs your help.

Risky Behavior

Is the person picking fights? If the person is engaging in risky behavior like getting behind the wheel of a chair even under the influence, s/he needs help. Also, the person might be engaging in casual sex and if s/he is taking drugs that mess up with her control or inhibitions then your loved one isn’t in the proper frame of mind to defend against any attack or possible assault.

Loss of Interest

Say, your loved one always loved sports or mysteries. But after a while, you’ve noticed that the person no longer loves the same topics. It’s possible for the person to have outgrown that love and interest. However, loss of interest could also be a result of addiction, as the person’s every waking thought only includes the next dosage or shot.

Effects

People who take the drug frequently develop tolerance to and dependence on the drug. That dependence leads to addiction. When the person tries to stop consuming the drug at this point, s/he experiences withdrawal symptoms. A medically assisted detox is the best way to deal with this, as it ensures that the person will have a comfortable and safe experience. With pros to step in and administer drugs to ease the symptoms, it’s the first step towards treatment and recovery.

Treatment