According to the National Institutes of Health, 10% of US adults have had a drug use disorder at some point in their lives. This staggering statistic highlights just how common drug addiction is today. Chances are there may be someone in your own life who is struggling with addiction and may not even realize it.
In this article, you’ll learn about the eight common signs of addiction to look out for if you suspect you or someone you know may be struggling with addiction.
At Sequoia Recovery Centers, we offer substance abuse treatment in Washington so patients can safely and effectively break free of addiction once and for all. With a wide range of Washington addiction treatment services available, we provide tailored support so patients can receive the unique care they need to best support their road to recovery. Contact us today to learn more about how we can support your recovery journey.
8 Common Signs of Addiction
Sometimes, addiction can be extremely difficult to spot. If you are struggling to determine if you or someone you know is facing an addiction, keep reading to learn the top signs of addiction to look out for.
- Denial
Denial is the first sign you’ll want to look out for. If you notice that you or someone you know is denying that they have a problem, or undermining their behavior (i.e. discounting how much they drink), this is a common sign that someone is trying to hide how much their drug abuse truly affects their life.
- Withdrawal Symptoms
If you find that you or someone you know experiences withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, light-headedness, or irritability when you don’t use drugs or alcohol each and every day, this may be a sign of addiction. Your body adapts and becomes dependent on drugs over time, so if you are struggling with drug addiction, you will experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop abusing drugs.
- Physical Changes
Physical changes such as sudden weight changes or lack of personal hygiene may also point to someone struggling with addiction. Therefore, if you notice that someone has let themselves go and no longer showers or practices healthy hygiene, this may point out that they may be struggling with an addiction.
- Inability to Stop
If you or someone you know has trouble quitting, or cannot quit when they make a conscious effort to stop drinking or abusing drugs, this is another common sign of addiction. If you have difficulty quitting, this means your body has become dependent on a certain substance, which points to addiction.
- Fractured Relationships
Addiction can also be extremely damaging to relationships. This is because drug addiction breaks trust with others. Therefore, if you notice someone in your life has become distant from those closest to them, this is another sign that they may be struggling with addiction.
- Being Secretive
Being secretive is another sign that someone may be struggling with addiction. Like denial, an addict may try to hide their behavior, especially from loved ones so as to not disappoint or worry them.
- Decrease in Work or School Performance
A decrease in work or school performance is another sign of addiction you cannot ignore. Whether you have a teen whose grades significantly drop seemingly out of nowhere or a spouse who is all of a sudden always late for work or not performing to their typical degree, these signs may further point to that individual struggling with addiction.
- Increase in Consumption
Last but not least, if you notice you or someone you know constantly consuming more and more alcohol or drugs to experience a certain effect, this is another sign you don’t want to ignore. As you become dependent on a drug, your body will grow a tolerance and need to consume more of a substance in order to experience the same high you are used to experiencing.
Help Is Available
Although addiction can sometimes be difficult to spot, there are several signs of addiction in yourself or others you can look for if you suspect you or someone you know is struggling with addiction. Addiction can destroy your health and quality of life for the worse. But, you don’t have to struggle with addiction forever– help is available!At Sequoia Recovery Centers, we are committed to helping as many patients as possible achieve long-lasting sobriety. We understand that each recovery journey is different. That’s why we offer a variety of treatment options at our Spokane drug and alcohol detox center. Contact us today to learn how we can support your road to recovery.
