How to Spot Addiction, and How to get Help – TheCyn.com

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Realizing that you yourself, or a loved one, has an addiction can be a harsh realization for anyone. It can be a long, frustrating struggle to get to that point, as well. There are many signs that show that a person may be struggling with a drug addiction, but some of these are easily skipped over. They can frequently be signs of other problems, as well. Because of this, figuring out a drug addiction may be much more difficult than anticipated.

When you are looking for signs and symptoms of a drug addiction, you will also want to keep in mind that some of the symptoms may look like an addiction, but in reality, are not. For example, you may find that a loved one is withdrawn and sleeping more than normal. This could be caused by depression, or even a physical illness. It is best not to jump to conclusions too early. Some signs of addiction depend on the drug in question. For example, if you find that a loved one is constantly in the hospital for unknown pains, you may find that they are addicted to prescription pain medications. If you find that there are hidden alcohol bottles around the house, you might start to suspect an alcohol addiction. Finding these signs in others is frequently much easier than finding them in yourself. If you are heading to the hospital to be stocked up on the pain meds that you are almost out of, you may want to consider looking at your actions a little more closely.

Luckily, there is help. Once you have realized that you have a drug addiction, or that you have a loved one with an addiction, you may want to consider contacting a facility like TheCyn.com. Rehab facilities will be able to help break the addiction and get you or your loved one back on your feet.

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Four Stages of Addiction

Addiction
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Battling an addition is one of the most taxing and harrowing experience in human existence. The thought that you are controlled by a substance and regularly partake in destructive behavior is not something anyone wishes to admit. Many addicts are unaware of their dependency or in denial about it until they are first confronted by the issue at a family intervention. However, for outsiders looking in, the telltale signs are all too clear. In fact, there are typically four stages of addition.

The drug experimentation stage is the first one most people fall into. This is when people first experiment with controlled substances recreationally. This stage does not indicate that the user will become an addict. In fact, many young adults go through this stage and do not pass to the others.

After the initial experimentation stage, the next stage is when the misuse of drugs comes into play. This is when the recreational use begins to have some negative repercussions. This can include damaging relationships while being intoxicated or not owning up to responsibilities because of the use of drugs.

Once the misuse of drugs escalates to the abuse of drugs, the person truly becomes an addict. This is when there are severe negative repercussion to the use of the drugs and when the user lets the drug have more value than people or relationship in their lives.

The final stage is when the addict is consumed and completely dependent on the substance. This is when people would rather steal from friends and family than go without their substance of choice.

These stages are all signs pointing to a problem. Many families try to intervene and get the addict help, but the real task at hand is getting the individual to admit he has a problem before it gets to the fourth stage.

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Things to Watch for if You Suspect Substance Abuse

Substance Abuse
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The power of addiction is incredible. People that say they will never become addicted to anything should not use the word never. Addiction does not affect just a certain group of people. It does not discriminate between the rich and the poor, the good and the bad. Addictive behaviors affect millions of people all across the country and from all walks of life. Someone you know could be battling an addiction right now and you may not even know about it.

When it comes to substance abuse, there are some signs you can watch for if you suspect an addiction. One thing to watch out for is a change in behavior that is completely unlike the individual. For instance, if someone you love starts socializing with a new group of friends, especially friends that are known for substance abuse, you may have a problem on your hands. If the person you know starts lying or stealing, they could be trying to feed their addiction and cover their tracks. Pay attention to what they say, where they go and whom they are with on a regular basis. These things could be vital clues in determining if the person has a serious problem.

Watch for physical signs of substance abuse, as well. It will not be hard to tell if the person is under the obvious influence of drugs or alcohol if they appear intoxicated. The subtle signs are harder to pinpoint if the person is trying to hide their addiction. Glassy eyes, bloodshot eyes, the smell of alcohol, the smell of marijuana, inability to sit still, uncontrollable movement in the jaw, unexplainable scratching and weight loss are just a few signs of different kinds of substance use. If you determine that someone you care about is suffering from a substance abuse problem, seek professional help immediately. Left untreated, addiction will quickly take hold of a life and ruin it.

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What to do if my kid Admits to Some Substance Abuse?

What if my Teen is Using Drugs?

For a lot of parents it’s the thing they never want to consider, their kid abusing harmful substances, like illegal drugs or prescription drugs, but it happens every day. 20 percent of youth, in a 2009 survey by the Centers for Disease Control, admitted to taking prescriptions drugs without a doctor’s prescription. It’s easy these drugs are all around. They are in most people’s medicine cabinets. All a teenager has to do is walk into the kitchen and open a cupboard, look behind the mirror in the bathroom, or just attend a party over the weekend. They are surrounded with opportunities to mess up. So, what if they admit they’ve made a mistake, or you find out.

Substance Abuse by Teens, There’s Help and Hope

First thing all parents need to do is to keep their cool. You learned it when they threw fits at two, you will learn it again when they admit to substance abuse as a teenager. There is a path through every problem, including this one. It’s important to talk to your kid, when everyone is cleared headed, but as quickly as possible about the situation and find out all the particulars like who, what, where, when, and why. Be clear about your values on the topic. Also, make sure your kid knows you love them no matter what, but they also need to understand the consequences of their decisions both long term and short term. Set clear boundaries for you and your child. Help them to not make the same mistake again. Check their behavior and be available constantly to support them and be their safety net.

Get Professional Help with Recovery and Rehab

When you feel like you’re in over your head, get some professional help. Your child’s future and your family’s future are at stake. A substance abuse problem in a child or teen isn’t something to ignore. Get help from a professional in the field of recovery and rehab from addiction. Help your child to start healing before it’s too late.

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Pain Killers- Abuse and Addiction

The injury was enough to warrant a subscription.  You were in a car crash, suffered a fall during your softball game or just came home from surgery.  Your doctor prescribed you a painkiller. Probably an opiate like OxyContin (codeine) or Vicodin.  Either way, the purpose was to treat the pain.  The relief was just a pill away.  After a while, the body needed more.  You needed more.  You developed a tolerance and now you are upping the doses to get the same relief.  You are now abusing the drug just to feel normal again.
Besides the higher doses, you’re probably taking them more frequent.  Instead of the suggested tablet(s) with a glass of water, you’re crushing it up and chewing them or snorting it.  YES, snorting the crushed up pill now in powder form through your nostrils.  Forget about the warnings on the label, you need this stuff.  You are now showing the signs of addiction as you crave more.
Unfortunately, that abuse has accelerated to addiction and now you can’t stop. It’s getting worse.  You start setting appointments with several different doctors to keep the supply flowing and the doctors questions to a minimum.  The body is dependent on the drug.  As you struggle to hide this addiction from loved ones, you become desperate to maintain the relief or fix by adding other medications or even alcohol to the mix.  By now, there is no hiding the addiction as you seek that “high” as often as you can. Eventually, you’ll try harder substances to feel the same effects.
The good news is there are indicators to show you, there is a problem.  A few signs to look for would be:
- your body needs the drug to function normally
- your tolerance increases over time
- withdraw symptoms surface when you try and stop
- you are using despite possible health risks
- you become defensive and/or deny there is an addiction
- withdraw from friends and family or daily  activities
- your behavior exhibits drug-seeking patterns
The first thing you need to do is except and recognize there is a problem and then seek help.
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