Signs of Substance Abuse Addiction

There are many different signs that point towards you or someone you care about having a substance abuse addiction. These can be very obvious signs or signs that are harder to pick up on. The first step in treating any substance abuse problem is that the person with the substance abuse problem must be willing to contemplate the idea that that they might have a problem. This is often a difficult step. Going through a list of signs may make it easier to accept that there is in fact an issue as it makes it harder to deny that there is a problem.

The more obvious signs are drug dependence (relying on a drug to get through the day or taking the drug often), clear use of illegal drugs (seeing the person using the substance), and if the person admits they use drugs often. There are many more signs that aren’t as obvious. These might include drinking a great deal quickly to get drunk faster or keeping a stash of alcohol or drugs in their house so they don’t run out  .

Associated signs of drug addiction:

    Isolation: the person may isolate themselves from contact with friends or family either due to increase use of the drug or in an attempt to not be stopped from using. This may also be a sign of depression or suicidal thoughts which often go together with substance abuse.
    Loss of Interest: there may be a loss of interest in things that the individual used to find pleasurable. This could be as simple as not going to their weekly bowling event or flat out not enjoying anything that they can’t do while under the influence .
    Relationship Problems: the person may be experiencing issues with friends, family, and romantic relationships. These issues might include a lack of attention to these people, a feeling of being judged by these people, or an increase in fighting with these groups.
    Money Troubles: the person may suddenly have financial problems or their money troubles might be getting worse. This could be because they are using the money to fuel their addiction instead of taking responsibility for other things that they need to in their lives . If the person is spending money on alcohol or drugs instead of paying rent, feeding themselves, or feeding their children, these are clear signs of an addiction..

The more signs and symptoms that are present the higher the chance that there is a substance abuse addiction. There is also high rate of overlap between signs of a substance abuse and symptoms of depression. If many of these signs are present then there may be a problem with substance abuse, depression, or a mixture of the two. There are many different drug treatment programs and drug addiction treatment centers that can provide the services that are needed to help. The drug treatment program or the drug addiction treatment center that will work best for you or your loved one may vary. Some people need more intensive treatment such as inpatient drug rehab centers, but others do not require inpatient drug rehab. Inpatient drug rehab centers should be tried after other, less restrictive types of treatment have been tried, including intensive outpatient programs.

Because our treatment center relies on evidence based practices, our Substance Abuse Intensive Outpatient Program shares many common methods with other successful rehab programs.  The foundations of our treatment program for substance abuse also rely on the principles of harm reduction, motivational interviewing, stages of change and cognitive behavioral therapy to promote recovery from alcohol abuse and drug treatment.  In fact, our Intensive Outpatient Program in Memphis, TN that has been proven to be effective in the treatment of alcohol abuse and drug treatment in peer reviewed treatment outcome studies.   Our treatment center  provides services to those who need more treatment than one hour a week, but less than 24 hour care, by providing three hours of treatment per day, three to five days per week, in an intensive outpatient setting.  If you or a loved one is showing signs of alcohol abuse or needs drug treatment rehab, they should be assessed by a trained mental health professional who can help design a treatment plan that can result in recovery.  Substance abuse Treatment can be highly successful.  Call us at 901-682-6136 to schedule an appointment.