One of the most difficult things someone can experience is losing a loved one. What can make this even more painful is to lose someone you love due to a treatable, preventable condition such as drug addiction. With drug addiction, it is so important to get help early, before the condition worsens and becomes deadly. Keep reading to learn more about the early signs of a drug addiction and attending the luxury drug rehab centers in Southern California.
Drug Addiction Signs: Statistics
- The rational part of a teen’s brain isn’t fully developed and won’t be until age 25
- This means that drug addiction early on can cause life-long effects, and long-term addiction rates are higher
- 1 in 5 teens have abused prescription medications, according to the Centers for Disease Control
- Approximately 21 percent of high school seniors have reported using marijuana in the past month, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse
- 1 in 3 parents believe there is little they can do to prevent teen drug use despite evidence that shows parental involvement is the strongest factor in prevention.
- Two out of three drug overdose deaths in 2018 involved an opioid
- In 2019, an estimated 10.1 million people aged 12 or older misused opioids. Specifically, 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers and 745,000 people used heroin.
What Are The Clear Signs That Someone Is Using Drugs?
Signs and symptoms of drug addiction can vary from person-to-person. Your loved one may show some signs, all of the signs, or very few signs at all. Trust your gut that if something is amiss, and some of these signs look familiar, that it is time to take action.
- Drug-seeking behavior. If your loved one is constantly taking medication, using way more than the recommended dose, is often visiting the doctor to receive medication, has multiple pharmacies, and spends a lot of time talking about or thinking about their drug of choice, this is a clear drug addiction sign.
- Isolation. One of the ways that addicts hide their use or hangover and deepen their addiction is by isolating themselves from their loved ones. Not calling as much, not coming around to important events, and becoming withdrawn should be cause for concern.
- New circle of friends. Individuals suffering from drug addiction very often surround themselves with new people who accept their addiction after they isolate themselves from loved ones.
- Sneakiness. Is your loved one leaving the home at all hours? Staying out late? Asking for money, or money is missing? If you notice these things, it could be due to drug addiction.
- Physical changes. One of the most obvious drug addiction signs is physical changes. This can include marked weight loss or gain, unkempt appearance, lack of personal hygiene, marks on the face, and more.
- Mood changes. Drugs can cause major changes to one’s mood. If you notice your loved one is increasingly irritable, creating volatile situations, arguing more, being defensive, or has heightened anxiety and paranoia, this is a clear sign of drug addiction.
What Are Some Symptoms Of Heroin Drug Addiction?
Heroin is part of one of the most dangerous classes of drugs — opioids. Opioid use has increased so much that it has been classified as an epidemic. So many people are dying from addiction to these drugs, that it has become more important than ever to know the symptoms of heroin drug addiction, specifically, in addition to the ones mentioned above.
- Track marks on the body from needle use
- Nausea and vomiting
- Flushed skin
- Severe itching
- Drowsiness
- Bad mood
- Clouded thinking
- Bluish lips and/or nails
- Disorientation
- Pinpoint pupils
- Muscle spasticity
Is Taking Drugs A Mental Illness?
Typically, when an individual has become addicted to drugs, it is due to an underlying condition. Underlying conditions for drug abuse include trauma or mental illness — whether these are diagnosed or undiagnosed. Although drug use and addiction can happen at any time during a person’s life, drug use typically starts in adolescence, a period when the first signs of mental illness commonly appear. Individuals may seek to self-medicate their symptoms of mental illness with drugs. Although it may provide a very temporary relief, in the long run, it makes the mental illness worse. This makes the addiction worse, and it quickly leads to a deadly overdose.
This makes mental illness treatment a very important part of drug addiction treatment. You cannot treat one without the other. Recovering from drug addiction is much more than simply becoming sober — without treating the underlying condition, the drug addiction will reappear, and vice versa. You will want to choose the best rehabilitation center for you.
About Seasons in Malibu
If you or a loved one is exhibiting the signs of drug addiction, it is important to seek help right away. Treatment at Seasons in Malibu is systemic, integrative and client-centered. Our philosophy is grounded in the understanding that in order for the client to heal, the entire system needs the opportunity to heal along with them.
It is a priority for us that our life-changing drug and alcohol treatment be available to the people who need it. We are fully familiar with how much strength and courage it takes to pick up the phone and ask for help. Our counselors are invested in your well-being and are ready around-the-clock to guide you or a trusted friend or family member through the initial steps of overcoming drug or alcohol addiction.
With our superior team of clinicians, we are able to succinctly pinpoint those areas of focus which will give the client the most advanced opportunity for success. Our approach towards healing is collaborative, comprehensive and committed. Learn more about top rehab centers.
