Addiction Intervention: Drug Addiction Signs – How You Can Tell if a Loved One Is Using?

There are many different drug addiction sings. When people take drugs the pleasure center of the brain is sent a flood of messages that overloads this area of the brain. In particular, dopamine, a neurotransmitter, is released causing a euphoria. Subsequently, drug use can end up having various side effects including insomnia, loss of weight, or even death. To help you determine whether a loved one is showing the signs of drug addiction, here, is a list of some common signs:

-Hostility or anger

-Anxiety or irritability

-Depression or suicidal thoughts

-Health problems like a heart attack

In addition, significant drug addiction can be seen when users repeatedly use drugs even after they become aware of how it ruins their relationships or starts causing health problems. Drugs can also negatively impact your thinking. Specifically your memory and learning skills can be damaged and impaired through continued drug use. Students who use drugs may see a drop in their grades or lower levels of performance at work.

There are also several secondary drug addiction signs. One area is with increased legal or monetary problems. Many drug users fail to pay their bills by keeping their money for drugs. Also, legal issues can arise as drugs make people more impulsive resulting in rash behavior for some. 

Another area is where their current behavior is a vast departure from past behavior. If the person is not doing the same activities they were doing in the past or avoiding friends or family, this can be a sign of drug addiction. 

However, these secondary areas should be considered in review of other information and signs. Many of these secondary signs can be caused by other factors unrelated to drug use. However, some more common direct signs to consider are slurred speech, dilated pupils, red and watery eyes, or body twitching. These signs can be better indicators of drug use although specific symptoms may vary depending on the specific drugs used. 

If you determine that a friend or loved one may be using drugs, an addiction intervention may be necessary. It is a good idea to discuss your concerns with other family members and friends to see if others see the same drug addiction signs. However, once it is determined the person has a drug addiction; an addiction intervention should be a tool that you should consider to help get them on the road to recovery. 

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