Nearly 21 million Americans are suffering from at least one addiction.
While this is a heartbreaking statistic, it’s not surprising. Addiction and substance abuse are growing rapidly, affecting people of all ages, races, and all walks of life. What starts as a drink with friends or experiment with the latest drug can end in a lost career, family, and even a loss of life.
Whether you are feeling uncomfortable about your level of substance abuse or are concerned about your loved one, these are the signs of a substance abuse problem you shouldn’t ignore.
Table of Contents
1. Chronic Dishonesty
One of the common signs of drug addiction is sudden and chronic dishonesty. This can be due to the shame of abusing substances as well as the changes in the brain that happen during addiction.
2. Sudden Mood Swings
One sign of alcohol abuse is sudden mood swings. These dramatic mood swings can be caused by changes in your brain chemistry from using substances as well as the effects of withdrawal.
3. Hiding Drug or Alcohol Use
A clear sign of a substance abuse problem is hiding drug or alcohol use. This generally happens after a friend or family member has noticed or expressed concern about the overuse of substances. If you or a loved one are hiding your drug or alcohol use, consider a treatment plan like Cenikor Outpatient Support.
4. Neglecting Responsibilities
Another common sign of a drinking problem is neglecting responsibilities. Addiction is powerful and will slowly take over your life. This can result in lost jobs, losing custody of children, and more.
5. Poor Decision Making
Substance abuse causes your cognitive abilities to decline while your cravings increase. This can lead to risky behavior and poor decision-making, especially during a withdrawal process.
6. Signs of Withdrawal
Withdrawal symptoms is one of the physical warning signs of addiction. Withdrawal is painful and can cause muscle pain, restlessness, dizziness, shaking, vomiting, fatigue, and more.
7. Isolation
Withdrawing and isolating is a common sign of substance abuse. Those struggling with addiction tend to cut themselves off from the world, especially when their poor decision-making has resulted in losing their job, family, friends, home, and more.
While substance abuse is not the only cause of isolation, when combined with other common symptoms, it can indicate a substance abuse problem.
Read Also: Best Ways To Help Someone Overcome Addiction
These Are the Signs of Substance Abuse You Shouldn’t Ignore
There are many signs of substance abuse you should look out for.
The most common signs include sudden and chronic dishonesty and sudden mood swings. Hiding alcohol or drug use, neglecting responsibilities, and making poor decisions are also signs. If you notice any physical signs of withdrawal, there is likely a problem.
If you or a loved one have any of these physical signs and behaviors, seek help right away.