Recognizing an Addiction Problem
Recognizing an addiction problem in someone you know can be harder than it seems. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic disease that affects the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory functions. Someone with an addiction will crave a substance or other behavioral habits. They’ll often ignore other areas of life to fulfill or support their desires.
General signs of addiction are:
lack of control, or inability to stay away from a substance or behavior
decreased socialization, like abandoning commitments or ignoring relationships
ignoring risk factors, like sharing needles despite potential consequences
physical effects, like withdrawal symptoms or needing higher dosage for effect
These signs are commonly linked. The degree of intensity for each sign may depend on how long the addiction has been going on.
A healthy person can usually identify a negative behavior and get rid of it. This is not the case with someone with an addiction. Rather than admit the problem exists, they’ll find ways to justify and continue the behavior.
The first step to getting help is being able to recognize the physical, mental, and emotional signs, like abrupt weight or personality changes in your friends or family members.
Identifying the initial signs
In the early stages, a person might not show telltale signs of a full-blown addiction. Some early stage clues include:
experimentation
family history of addiction
being particularly drawn to an activity or substance
seeking out situations where the substance or activity is present
episodes of binging or loss of control with little to no feelings of remorse after
When it comes to common social behaviors like drinking or smoking, it might be difficult to determine if there’s an addiction problem. What looks like addiction could be an experimental phase or a form of stress management. But a real addiction, if left untreated, can develop into a debilitating habit or increased risk of illness.
Look for changes in personality
After a person moves past experimenting or the early phase of addiction, they’ll likely exhibit major personality or behavior changes. These changes may be infrequent at first. Telltale signs include:
a lack of interest in hobbies or activities that used to be important
neglecting relationships or reacting negatively to those closest to them
missing important obligations like work
risk taking tendencies, especially to get drugs or continue certain behaviors
ignoring the negative consequences of their actions
distinct change in sleeping patterns that result in chronic fatigue
increased secrecy, like lying about the amount of substance used or time spent
You may notice an increase in alienation over time. People with an addiction tend to surround themselves with others who encourage their habits. When confronted, they may make excuses and try to justify their behavior to you.
Look for changes in health
Another way to recognize addiction is to pay attention to your friend or family member’s mental and physical health. Whether the addiction is to a drug or a behavior, their health will almost always decline.
Signs that point towards changes in their health can include:
bloodshot or glazed eyes
constant illness
unexplained injuries
abrupt change in weight
bad skin, hair, teeth, and nails (especially when substance abuse involves illicit drugs like methamphetamines or cocaine)
increased tolerance to drugs
physical withdrawal symptoms like sweating, trembling, or vomiting
memory loss or problems with recall
change in speech like slurred words or rapid rambling
The following mental and emotional changes could also be signs of an addiction problem:
sudden changes in mood
aggressive behavior
irritability
depression
apathy
suicidal thoughts
It’s important to eliminate any potential medical reasons for someone’s health decline. Keep in mind that someone with an addiction will almost always understate the seriousness of their condition. If there’s no other explanation, then there’s an increased chance of an underlying addiction problem.
