Sometimes, individuals who struggle with substance use disorder (SUD) can not recognize addiction and its symptoms within themselves. Addiction can be hard to accept, despite the consequences of excessive substance use on personal relationships, professional lives, and well-being. Consequently, we must learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of addiction in our loved ones. That way, we can take the necessary steps to help them seek treatment.
You can be on the lookout for several signs to determine if a loved one needs help. Education, intervention, and other resources are formidable tools in the battle against addiction. Equipped with these, you can help a loved one seek treatment. If you or a loved one are struggling to recognize the signs of SUD, continue reading below.
For some, this may be your first time being exposed to SUD. More people seem to be speaking up about their substance use and experiences with addiction. Perhaps you are in a new situation where a loved one has confided in you about their struggles. Knowing what to do with that information can be challenging. The most important thing at this stage is to be loving and supportive. Educating yourself can help you manage the new information.
On the other hand, maybe for you, your loved one has not confided in you, but you know something is wrong. In this case, it's vital to learn about the warning signs of SUD and recognize addiction.
Addiction, or SUD, is a "chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences." The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains that an initial decision to use substances is voluntary for most. However, "repeated drug use can lead to brain changes that challenge" an individual's self-control and interferes with "their ability to resist intense urges" to use substances.
NIDA also explains how drugs affect the brain's reward circuit, rewiring it only to derive pleasure from substance use and causing it to want more over time. When someone uses substances regularly, their brain craves more and adapts by "reducing the ability of cells in the reward circuit to respond to it." As a result, the brain becomes more tolerant, and eventually, individuals must use more to experience the same effects.
The longer and more excessively a person uses drugs or alcohol, the more damage the substances can cause. Individuals may become less interested in their hobbies, spend less time with friends and family, and find that specific functions are severely impaired. That may include cognitive function, memory, and the ability to learn or make rational decisions. It can also change behavior, causing individuals to make riskier choices than they typically would, putting them in all kinds of trouble and danger.
Researchers have not pinpointed one direct cause of addiction. Instead, a combination of factors can increase the risk of developing an addiction. Some of those factors, according to NIDA, include:
Individuals with a family history of SUD may be at an increased risk of developing an addiction. NIDA also indicates that "gender, ethnicity, and the presence of other mental disorders" can increase the prevalence of developing SUD.
One's situation regarding the things around them is also very influential. Our environment includes family and friends, upbringing, peer influence, and economic status. Peer pressure, childhood neglect or abuse, or early experiences with substances can increase the chances of drug use and developing addiction.
Genetic and environmental factors can interact with our critical developmental stages. Substance use at any age, but especially during childhood, can increase the chances of becoming dependent on substances later in life. What we are exposed to during these development stages can directly impact the likelihood of developing SUD.
The best way to recognize addiction in a loved one is to observe their behavioral patterns. Individuals typically lose interest in activities or spend less time with families and other loved ones in favor of engaging in substance use or obtaining substances. There are several other signs to be on the lookout for, including:
Consider hosting an intervention if you recognize addiction or these signs in your loved one. Supporting them on their journey toward sobriety is sometimes the best thing you can do.
Individuals struggling with substance use disorder (SUD) often do not recognize the signs of addiction within themselves. Therefore, as their loved ones, we must learn to identify the signs for them and help them seek treatment. Initially, your loved one may not be receptive to listening or accepting that they have a condition that requires treatment. Successfully hosting an intervention can help them see that they can not carry on like this and need help. Even if you recognize addiction in someone you love, remember that they must decide to seek treatment for themself. You can't do it for them. You can, however, support them. For more information, call NorthStar Transitions at (303) 558-6400.
