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It’s natural to be concerned about the health of your loved ones. And this is especially the case if you find that they are behaving in a peculiar manner. Then, if you have a gut feeling that a loved one is battling with substance abuse, use it as a sign that you should keep an eye on them.
One in ten Americans over the age of twelve has a substance use disorder. And if you don’t check in on your loved ones, you can be putting them in danger. Because addiction is a progressive disease with subtle signs, this is crucially vital to keep in mind before it’s too late
But don’t stress yourself out immediately. Although addiction is a condition with varying symptoms and approaches to therapy, there are universal warning indications that someone you care about may be battling with the disease. Some of the following symptoms may indicate that a loved one is becoming dependent on drugs or alcohol:
Physical Changes
Drug use manifests itself physically in three main ways: as a result of usage, an overdose, and withdrawal. Observable changes in the appearance of your loved one are one of the most telling indicators of a substance abuse problem. You can tell whether a loved one is struggling with substance abuse by looking at their body mass.
Substance dependence is often characterized by extremes in body mass, both before and after treatment. This is due to the fact that several substances influence both metabolism and hunger directly. They either forget to eat or consume excessive amounts of food. Moreover, having a drug use disorder means a person is more likely to focus the majority of their energy on obtaining and using the substance than focusing on what they eat.
Other physical changes you might notice in your loved ones who is struggling with substance dependence are as follows:
- Changes in skin color
- Red eyes or dilated pupils
- Weird perspiration odors
- Lack of hygiene
- Skin sores
- Onset of dental issues
Shift in Sleep Patterns
If you are concerned that a loved one may be suffering from substance dependency, one further indicator to consider is how they sleep. Drug use has a profound effect on a person’s sleep schedule, which can vary greatly from one substance to another. Taking stimulants, for instance, would cause them to feel more awake and aware. A few successive doses might leave them too wired to sleep for days.
However, there are drugs like opiates that have the opposite effect and slow down the brain.The result is a state of peaceful rest. So it’s possible the user will nod off right away, even in the middle of a discussion.
Changes in Behavior
Addiction to substances can severely impair one’s cognitive abilities. It can make one less able to reason and make sound decisions.People who are fighting drug addiction often have other mental health problems as well. Hallucinations, paranoia, and even suicidal ideation can develop when mental illness and substance dependence coexist.
Some of the alterations in behavior of a person struggling with drug addiction are as follows:
- Frequent lying
- Becoming uninterested in previously enjoyed activities
- Becoming either too chatty or withdrawn
- Has difficulty with routine everyday activities
- Becoming pessimistic
- Frequent borrowing or stealing money
- Wanting isolation
Emotional Changes
Those who are battling addiction are prone to erratic actions. Substance abuse often results in a person being emotionally and psychologically distant from their surroundings. They are also not rational enough to manage their responses to others. As a result, they frequently engage in harmful behavior towards those closest to them. Further, the degree and frequency of substance misuse can cause large mood swings, and various illegal substances and alcohol can cause a wide range of feelings.
The following indicators may help you determine whether or not a loved one is dependent to substances:
- Toxic verbal or physical treatment
- Moments of uncontrollable sobbing
- Attacks of hysteria and aggression
- Extreme fear
- Hostility
Changes in Their Everyday Function
Those struggling with drug dependence may constantly ponder on their next fix and plot their next acquisition. This causes them to neglect their personal grooming, family duties, academics, jobs, and relationships.
Addiction to drugs can delay or prevent a person from completing daily responsibilities, such as showing up on time for work or school. It can also make people careless in their academic or professional endeavors. Furthermore, those who are battling substance abuse tend to isolate themselves. That’s why they start to withdraw emotionally from their loved ones, to the point where they could even see harmless conversation as an attack.
One of the most telling symptoms of substance dependence is the inability of a formerly responsible and motivated loved one to follow through on their promises. The disarray that follows drug use makes it difficult to recover while continuing to use, so they typically lose even more control as their dependence on the substance deepens.
If you or a loved one exhibits any of these symptoms, it may be time to have an intervention to address the addiction. Fortunately, there are plenty of available options to assist you in treating your loved ones. Confidant Health, for example, is an app-based clinic that provides medication-assisted treatment for folks who are battling with substance dependence and would want some assistance from trained specialists.
The great thing about online clinics is that you may find them by searching online from any location and getting a huge list of results. If you are looking for a suboxone clinic in Houston, Texas, for example, you can simply make an online search for suboxone clinic houston and select the top result.
