Five of the Top Drug Addiction Signs
Drug addiction is a fact in the U.S., Canada and other countries.
Age, gender, race, financial situation is not as relevant as once believed. Since it has been established that drug addiction does not discriminate, what are the signs and symptoms? Here are five prevalent signs:
1. Grades slipping. If your teenager or college student has a sudden drop in grades, then it is important to investigate a little further. Drugs affect moods, concentration and memory. A drop in grades could be a wakeup call that your teen or college student is addicted to something that is interfering with his or her grades at school.
2. Behavioral changes. Does your friend or loved one seem to have a personality lately that feels almost roller coaster by definition? Perhaps the same loved one who would have never done anything to harm his or her children is now driving around intoxicated. Poor decisions such as this, irritation and those mood swings again. These are strong signs of drug or alcohol addiction and should be addressed accordingly.
3. Financial problems. You paid the bills for the month and within a week you are getting notices about insufficient funds. You ask your partner about it but he or she comes up with an excuse, perhaps getting angry about it at the same time. The fact is, drug addiction ruins people financially as well as emotionally and physically. If there is no explanation for where the money is going? Red Flag.
4. A cup of coffee and a shot of anything. This is true. If you need a beer with that first cup of coffee, if you need a shot of vodka, if you need a fix whether it is heroin, cocaine or another drug, then you need to face the fact that you are addicted. The need for something to start your day, the promise in the back of your mind that a little bit will not hurt, the craving, it is a sure sign that you are being controlled by the substance you crave.
5. Lying and hiding it. Sneaking a bottle out to the car, spiking your thermal coffee cup with alcohol, using a compact as a place for the white powder instead of to powder your nose; signs of addiction. Lying to your family members about money, grades, removing yourself from friends as you stay locked up in your room or house, calling in sick at work when you just want to stay home and get high. These are major red flags when it comes to a drug or alcohol addiction.
