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Having a drug addiction can take a huge toll on various areas of a person’s life – from their job and place of work, to their home life and relationships with others. Drug addiction can result in serious consequences for an individual’s mental and physical health, with dangerous psychological effects.
If you have noticed that a loved one is perhaps being more secretive than usual and demonstrating behaviour that could be linked to drug use, it’s time to get clear on the warning signs and what to look out for so you can diagnose an addiction.
Signs That a Person Could Be Using Drugs
General signs that a person could be under the influence of drugs or using them on a frequent basis include:
- Poor performance at work or school
- Changes in their normal character/mood swings
- Difficulty in articulating and confusion
- Feeling down and/or depressed
- Signs of secrecy/hiding items
A drug problem can happen to anyone at any time, regardless of their social standing. It is good to identify when a person needs help before they become too dependent on drugs, as it is most likely that the user will not be able to identify an addiction for themselves.
Drug Addiction: Behavioural Warning Signs
The following symptoms will vary from person to person, but a drug addiction will generally change a person’s mood, habits and character.
If you notice the following, seek help for drug abuse:
- Increased anger, irritability and changes in mood
- Changes to personality
- Feeling tired
- Depression/feeling very low
- Self harm
- Changes in the nature of posts on social media
- Changes in friendship circles
- Changes in everyday life priorities
- Involvement in drug sales
- Committing crime
Drug Addiction: Physical Warning Signs
If a person has a drug addiction, you may notice physical changes in their appearance. Some of the most common physical symptoms of drug abuse are:
- Eyes glazed over
- Red, watery eyes
- Dull skin/breakouts
- Dilated pupils
- Sudden changes in weight
- Looking tired/problems sleeping
- Appearing dishevelled, with a lack of attention to personal appearance/hygiene
- Lack of focus/concentration
- Dull hair
Drug Addiction Self-Assessment
If you feel you may have a drug addiction and require help, take the following questionnaire to assess your needs.
Answer ‘yes’ or ‘no’ as honestly as you can.
- Do you spend a lot of time thinking about drugs and how you will get your next hit?
- Has anyone mentioned that you are behaving differently?
- Are you hiding drugs from friends or family?
- Have you lost your job or home as a result of your drug use?
- Have you noticed changes in your appearance such as dull skin and red, bloodshot eyes?
- Have you lost a significant amount of weight recently?
- Are you having trouble sleeping?
If you replied with ‘yes’ to the above to at least four of these questions, it is time to seek help or rehab for your drug addiction.
What Can I Expect When I Enter Rehab for a Drug Addiction
Rehab clinics use various methods to help addicts recover from a drug abuse problem. These include the following:
Speech Therapy With Family and Friends:
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- Many clinics invite loved ones to attend the rehab facility you’re admitted to to discuss your drug use and the way it has impacted on all of your lives. This can be a very cathartic process as emotions and feelings are released on both sides. It is also a great method for those who do not want to face the counselling process alone.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Many people respond well to this technique, which involves intensive therapy sessions that tackle your relationship and attitude towards drugs. The therapy is designed to help you think about drugs from a different perspective to ensure that you do not relapse following rehab and can refrain from seeking them again.
Detox: This is the most common form of drug addiction therapy and the reason many people attend rehab when they abuse drugs. Detoxification slowly cleanses a person’s body of the illegal substances they are taking, until their body and mind function without withdrawal symptoms and they are considered healthy again. During the process it is very common for a person to experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, but any rehab clinic will be highly experienced in coaching the addict on how to manage these symptoms, potentially offering medications to make their detox more comfortable.
Group Speech Therapy (With Other Rehab Residents): This is another effective way of getting addicts to talk about their feelings and thoughts on their addiction with other people in a rehab centre. Fellow rehab residents are sharing the same experiencing of detox and withdrawal, so by speaking with others who share a similar experience, a person overcome drug addiction can feel more motivated and inspired.
Drug Detox and Withdrawal Symptoms
When a person undertakes a drug detox it is highly likely that they will experience withdrawal symptoms that reflect their body’s cravings for illegal substances. These symptoms will vary depending on the severity of the drug abuse and the substance the person is addicted to.
The most common withdrawal symptoms suffered by drug addicts on a detox programme include:
- Dry mouth
- Shakes and sweats
- Extreme sensitivity to hot and cold
- Feeling sick
- Headaches
- Tremors
- Muscular cramps or twitches in the arms and legs
- Aching
- Trouble sleeping
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
If you or a loved one requires help for a drug addiction, contact us at Rehab Clinics Group today by calling us now on 03301 596 494, or Text HELP To 83222
