Substance use disorder, which is also commonly referred to as addiction is a condition that tends to affect the victim's body and brain, as well as their behavior. Eventually, it creates a situation in which they are completely unable to control their use of prescription medications, illegal drugs, and legal substances - including but not limited to marijuana, alcohol, and nicotine. In case you have such an addiction, therefore, you might continue abusing the substance of choice in spite of the harm and severe consequences it causes.
In most cases, addiction tends to start with the experimental use of recreational, intoxicating, and mind altering substances - particularly in a social situation. For most people, such experimentation often leads to more frequent use. For others - especially where the drug of choice is an opioid - addition might start when they are exposed to prescription medications or when they receive such drugs from relatives, friends, and neighbors who have prescriptions for these medications.
That said, the risk of drug addiction - as well as the speed at which it evolves - will largely depend on the substance of choice. Some drugs, therefore, come with a higher risk and might cause addiction to develop faster than others. A good example is opioids.
With the passage of time, you might find that you need to take larger doses more frequently to achieve the desired effects that you are looking for. Additionally, you might need the substance to feel good, motivated, happy, and pleasurable.
When such drug use persists and increases, you might also find that it is becoming harder for you to stay without the substance. At this point, when you try to stop abusing it, you may experience intense cravings for it and feel physically sick or ill - meaning that you will be undergoing withdrawal.
Once this happens, you are likely going to need the help and support of friends, family, doctors, support groups, and organized treatment and rehabilitation programs to successfully overcome your addiction and start living a lifestyle of sobriety and abstinence free of all intoxicating substances.
To speed up this process, however, it is imperative that you understand drug addiction symptoms - particularly because they are a sign that your abuse has turned problematic and the time has come for you to seek support and treatment.
In most cases, drug addiction symptoms and behaviors tend to include the following:
At times, it might be difficult for you to distinguish normal angst, moodiness, and behavior among loved ones from the classic drug addiction symptoms. In these situations, you might want to look for the following potential indicators that a loved one could be using intoxicating substances:
In the same way, most drug addiction symptoms also encompass signs of substance abuse and intoxication. These symptoms tend to vary depending on the substance of abuse. Consider the following:
There are two primary groups of synthetic substances - including synthetic or substituted cathinones and synthetic cannabinoids - that are illegal in many states in the US. This is because they come with unpredictable and dangerous effects.
Spice or K2 is a synthetic cannabinoid meaning it is not a natural or harmless substance. It is similar in its effects to marijuana. Some of the signs of recent use and intoxication to it include:
On the other hand, substituted cathinones are also referred to as bath salts. They are similar to most amphetamines, including cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy). They may also result in dangerous effects. Some of the symptoms of intoxication from and recent use of bath salts include:
These include prescription drugs that act to depress the CNS (central nervous system). People misuse them while looking to switch off, forget stressful feelings and thoughts, and experience relaxation.
Barbiturates include Seconal (secobarbital) and phenobarbital. Benzodiazepines include a variety of sedatives like Librium (chlordiazepoxide), Klonopin (clonazepam), Ativan (lorazepam), Xanax (alprazolam), and Valium (diazepam). On the other hand, hypnotics usually encompass prescription sleeping medications like Sonata (zaleplon) and zolpidem (such as Intermezzo and Ambien).
Some of the symptoms of intoxication to these substances include:
Cannabis includes hashish, marijuana, and any other substance that contains the drug. Most people abuse this drug through ingestion, inhalation, and smoking. In most cases, it is a gateway drug in the sense that it may precede another intoxicating and mind altering substance or may be used concurrently with it - such as illegal drugs and alcohol.
Some of the signs and symptoms that someone is intoxicated on it include:
These refer to the substances that are commonly abused at parties, concerts, festivals, and clubs. They include MDMA (molly or ecstasy), ketamine, Rohypnol (flunitrazepam), and GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyric acid).
Although these drugs may not necessarily belong to the same class of addictive and intoxicating substances, they share similar dangers, effects, and symptoms of abuse and addiction - including but not limited to:
Most stimulant drugs include methamphetamine (meth), amphetamines, amphetamine-dextroamphetamines (such as Adderall and Adderall XR), methylphenidate (like Concerta and Ritalin), and cocaine. People abuse them to boost their energy, improve performance at school or work, control appetite or lose weight, and feel euphoric and high.
Symptoms of their abuse and addiction include:
When you use hallucinogens and become addicted to them - including PCP (phencyclidine) and LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide) you might display different drug addiction symptoms.
For LSD addiction, you might show the following symptoms:
On the other hand, PCP addiction is symptomized by:
Some of the commonly abused inhalants include household aerosol products, cleaning fluids, gasoline, felt tip marker fluid, correction fluid, paint thinners, and glue. Signs of their addiction include:
These drugs are made synthetically or produced from the opium found occurring naturally in the poppy plant. They include oxycodone, methadone, codeine, morphine, and heroin.
Signs and symptoms of their abuse, dependence, and addiction include:
In case you display any of the drug addiction symptoms listed above, it is imperative that you seek treatment and get the help you need. In fact, the earlier you undergo detox, treatment, and rehabilitation at an accredited facility, the greater your opportunities and chances for long term recovery and sobriety. Get started today by talking to mental health professionals, addiction specialists, and other experts to ensure that you get assisted before it is too late and the substance you abuse end up causing permanent changes in your physical and psychological health and well-being.
If you are addicted to alcohol or drugs, it is imperative that you look for professional help as soon as you possibly can. However, you might not know where to start or the options that are open to you. Similarly, you may have little to no idea about the differences between the different treatment facilities and the programs they have in store for their patients.
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