We know how scary watching a loved one struggle with addiction can be. We also know that you want to help, but you need to know the signs of addiction. Drug addiction comes with many negative physical, emotional, behavioral, and social consequences. These are called the symptoms of addiction, and spotting them early can help you help your loved one get the help they need to recover fully. Contact A Better State online or call us at 781.412.1488 today to learn how our substance abuse treatment can help you and your family.
What Is Drug Addiction?
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a complex and chronic brain disease involving brain circuitry and dysfunctional behaviors. Drug addiction can negatively impact a person’s physical and emotional health, damage their career and home life, and disrupt relationships with family and friends. Addiction also alters your loved one’s ability to function in everyday life. Fortunately, when you know the signs of substance abuse, you can help to usher your loved one to A Better State’s professional medical care. Addiction treatment they need and deserve to receive. At our caring, compassionate facility, A Better State offers patients a substance abuse treatment program designed with them in mind. With a variety of amenities and a range of care options, we will treat your loved one as a whole person, paying special attention to the trauma they may have endured, helping to foster their new sobriety, and guiding them through the recovery process.
Understanding drug use and knowing how to recognize the symptoms of addiction in those you love most is an important part of their eventual recovery. The more you are aware of how to help with drug addiction, the better equipped you will be to assist them in making the critical decision to seek help.
What Are The Signs of Addiction?
Put, drug addiction is a brain disease. But, when loved ones know the signs of substance abuse and can observe the loss of control and the beginning of poor choices, they can step in and try to steer an addicted person safely toward the substance abuse treatment that could save their life.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is the standard diagnostic tool published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and is widely used by medical and mental health professionals for diagnosing drug addiction and determining whether your loved one needs medical care to treat substance abuse. There are 5 of the key signs of addiction are part of the overall criteria for diagnosing drug addiction.
At least two of the following signs of substance abuse must be present in a year to be considered having a drug addiction, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse:
- Inability to stop using drugs despite your loved one having a strong desire to do so, and many even previous attempts to stop
- A pattern of spending a lot of time working on obtaining more drugs, using them, and recovering from drug use
- Social and recreational activities that were a passion and priority were no longer valued, and participation was replaced by activities related to drug abuse.
- Despite the negative impact on relationships and the adverse social ramifications, continued drug use and continued use of drugs despite the knowledge that using them create emotional, social, and physical consequences.
- Tolerance to drugs caused regular use.
If you have seen two or more of the above symptoms in a loved one, reach out to us immediately. The steps of a holistic, successful recovery from drug addiction begin at A Better State. With us, your loved ones will be seen and treated holistically, focusing on the trauma that may have driven them to addiction. Our addiction treatment programs promote healing and learning to overcome and live a healthier, happier life.
Additionally, the symptoms of addiction include noticeable drug withdrawal symptoms when the drug wears off. Some of these signs of addiction include:
- Headaches
- Gastrointestinal issues
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Insomnia despite severe fatigue
- Irregular heart rate and blood pressure
- Irritability and agitation
Learn More at A Better State
If you believe your loved one may be addicted to drugs, reach out to A Better State today to discover how to help a loved one with drug addiction and how our addiction programs can be where their recovery begins. Contact us using our secure online form or call us confidentially at 781.412.1488.
