Addiction is a disease. Much like any other disease, there are warning signs and symptoms that go along with substance abuse and addiction.
If you fear that a friend, family member, or loved one may be struggling with drug or alcohol use in Anaheim, CA, being able to spot the possible warning signs of addiction can go a long way in helping them get the help and addiction treatment that they need.
Schedule an appointment with our care team.
Physical Appearance
One of the easiest ways that you can tell if someone you know is suffering from a substance use disorder is to look for noticeable changes in their physical appearance. In many cases, someone suffering from drug abuse and addiction will show noticeable physical signs.
This could include bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, poor personal hygiene, weight loss, or even flu-like symptoms such as a runny nose when they are not sick. Any noticeable, negative changes to their personal appearance could be a sign that they are battling substance abuse or addiction.
Changes in Behavior
Another fairly straightforward way to spot the possibility of a substance abuse issue is noticeable and unexplained behavioral changes.
You may notice that your friend, family member, or loved one is experiencing extreme mood swings or that they seem anxious, depressed, or irritable more than normal. You may also notice that activities or hobbies they used to enjoy, that they have stopped doing them.
These shifts in behavior could happen by the day or even by the hour based on the substance or substances that they are abusing and the severity of the abuse or addiction.
Financial Change
Many people who suffer from substance abuse and addiction find themselves getting into financial problems as a result of their addiction. Since they are in constant need of their “fix” they will often stop at nothing to get the drugs or alcohol they crave, even if they don’t have the money to afford it.
Depending on your relationship with the person, they may even come to you to ask you for financial help. If a friend, family member, or loved one comes to you for financial help but won’t tell you why they need the help, or if they are coming to you and asking you for money when in the past they haven’t and on the surface, their financial situation hasn’t changed, it could be a sign that they are struggling with drug or alcohol abuse.
Loss of Job
Over time, as a person continues to battle their substance abuse and addiction, the addiction starts to take over every aspect of their life, including their job and other responsibilities. When the addiction takes over in this way, it often results in the loss of their job.
This could be because they stop showing up for work or are regularly late as a result of being hungover or sick because of withdrawal symptoms or because the quality of their work has deteriorated to the point where they are fired as a result of their drug use. In some cases, they might even drink or do drugs on the job and get caught, which can also lead to them getting fired.
Changes in Relationships (Friendships and Intimate)
Addiction not only affects the person using and abusing drugs and alcohol, but it also affects those closest to the person. Addiction can lead to problems in relationships of all kinds including marriages, partnerships, and friendships.
Schedule an appointment today.
Oftentimes, as a result of addiction, the person suffering becomes obsessed with their addiction. Their time is spent either using, thinking about using or getting their next fix. As a result, they may neglect their relationships which can lead to lifelong friendships and intimate relationships suffering to the point of possible disrepair.
Know the Warning Signs of Addiction
Being able to spot the potential warning signs of addiction early on can help get you or a loved one the help that they need before it is too late.
If you or someone you know is suffering from substance abuse or addiction in Anaheim or throughout California, and are in need of inpatient treatment, look no further than Restorations Health Care.
We are a drug and alcohol inpatient detox and residential addiction treatment center serving Anaheim and the greater Southern California area. For more information on the treatment options and treatment programs that we offer, call us at 877-578-0708, fill out a contact form on our website, or speak to one of our live chat representatives.
