Addiction is a chronic brain disease characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior and the inability to stop using drugs despite the negative consequences. Addiction is a lonely and destructive disease. The powerful lure of drugs and how they affect the brain make it hard to stop once someone has started.
Drugs Completely Change a Person’s Behavior
The need for more and more of the drug will cause the addict to lie, steal for drug addiction, isolate themselves, exhibit secretive behavior, be manipulative, engage in criminal acts, shift blame, and even potentially become abusive. There are physical signs, behavioral signs, and even emotional signs that you can look for, this way you can know for sure if a loved one is possibly abusing drugs. Then you can get them the help they so desperately need before it is too late. Evoke Wellness Miramar offers a wide variety of solution-focused addiction treatments and South Florida detox programs, there is something for everyone.
What Are The Physical Signs of Addiction?
Identifying addiction can be difficult, but most addicts can pick out a person using drugs from a mile away, especially if they are trying to hide it. Depending on what substance is being used, someone using drugs will exhibit common physical, emotional, and behavioral signs. When a person is engaging in drug use, they will display some common physical signs. Some of these signs can include:
- Dilated pupils or red eyes
- Change in speech
- Excessive runny nose or sniffing
- Constant need to blow their nose (not related to a cold)
- Over or under-active depending on the drug
- Change in eating patterns
- Loss of weight
- Lack of personal hygiene or being unkempt
- Change in the way their clothes fit
- Appear undernourished or pale
When determining whether a person is using drugs, you can’t only rely on physical signs. There are also emotional and behavioral signs to look out for.
What Are The Behavioral Signs of Addiction?
The physical signs of addiction can be immediate, whereas behavioral signs may take longer to show. Some of the possible behavioral signs can include:
- Missing school or work
- Missing appointments or personal commitments
- Having problems at work or school
- Isolating
- Being secretive
- Frequent trips to the bathroom
- Sleep problems
- Financial difficulties
- Always broke or needing money
- Legal issues
- Avoiding eye contact
Along with physical and behavioral signs, a person having problems with addiction will also change emotionally.
What Are The Emotional Signs of Addiction?
Just like with the physical signs of addiction, you cannot solely look at a person with emotional issues and assume they are using drugs. When trying to identify someone having issues with addiction, you will notice a combination of physical, emotional, and behavioral signs. Some of the emotional signs of addiction can include:
- Defensive
- Irritable
- Obnoxious or silly
- Loss of interest
- Inability to cope with stress
- Easily confused
- In denial
- Blaming others
- Minimizing their behavior
- Making excuses or rationalizing
- Changing the subject
There are three C’s for addiction: loss of control over the frequency and amount of use, continued use despite adverse consequences, and craving and compulsive using or drug-seeking behavior. At this stage of use, treatment is vital, or death will eventually follow.
Evoke Wellness at Miramar Assists You On The Road to Long-Lasting Recovery
Evoke Wellness at Miramar offers cutting-edge addiction treatment programs. Our facilities in South Florida are committed to helping clients throughout the whole treatment experience. Our premier medical detox will help you get through the detox process comfortably and onto residential treatment under our professional care. So you don’t have to suffer any longer. Let Evoke Wellness in South Florida assist you on the road to long-lasting recovery.
