Common Signs & Symptoms of Drug Addiction
Addiction does not play favorites. There are no real stereotypes of addicts either – they come in all shapes and sizes and from all different walks of life. In the United States alone there are over 27 million Americans that are addicted to drugs or alcohol, 16 million of which are in need of immediate treatment. That is why when trying to find out whether you are dealing with an addict, it’s important to look for the distinct signs and symptoms of substance abuse. We have compiled six common signs below, though there are many more.
- Manipulating and lying to hide the true amount of intake.
Manipulation and lying is necessary for addicts to hide the fact that they are frequently consuming excessive amounts of a substance. For example, alcoholics will drink alone before a party so when they are out in public they don’t have to consume as much and only appear to drink the same as everyone else. - Frequent mysterious sicknesses.
Those suffering from substance abuse often come down with vague illnesses that leave them unable to work or handle any responsibility and yet are never bad enough to warrant a trip to the doctor. Most of the time these sicknesses are really just excuses to skip work, hide a hangover, or just be left alone and undisturbed with their alcohol or drugs. - Pain that never ends.
Back and stomach pain are both common complaints used by drug addicts who want to get prescription painkillers. Back and stomach pain is able to be vaguely described and is hard for doctors to directly diagnose and even harder to treat since there can be so many different causes. Using these types of pain as an excuse to fuel a drug addiction is an easier and simpler way to trick a doctor into writing a never-ending prescription. - Always a “perfect” story and excuse for every mishap.
Usually, once the abuse gets severe enough, the addict becomes at least somewhat aware they have a problem. But naturally, they don’t want anyone else to know it because they would then have to have honest and candid conversations, which is very difficult for most addicts. They will use a plethora of different tall tales that seem believable and can continue to keep the attention off of himself or herself and on some other person or problem. Listening closely to these stories and remembering them often reveals distinct and unlikely patterns, revealing the lies and manipulation. - Always blaming others for their own problems.
Pointing the finger at anyone or anything besides themselves is a common and well-known practice of alcoholics and addicts. They don’t want to take responsibility for their actions, because that would likely mean going into some type of drug treatment. Constantly blaming others creates problems in every aspect of life for addicts, especially in personal relationships and at work. The deeper addicts get into alcohol or their drug of choice, the more desperately they will make up stories and blame others.
Treatment for Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Luckily for both the addict and their loved ones, drug treatment is available for substance abuse. At Restore, we offer a variety of different programs to suit each of our client’s unique needs. We have both outpatient and inpatient treatment, dual diagnosis rehab, addiction counseling, holistic drug rehab, medical drug detox, and more. Visit our addiction treatment center in Calabasas at 6918 Owensmouth Ave Canoga Park, CA 91303. 24/7 Admissions (818) 722-9019. On-Site Contact (818) 806-3914.
