As a parent, preventing substance use in your young adult or adolescent children is essential. You need to have an effective and intelligent conversation with your child for beneficial results. Discovering your child uses substances may be disheartening, but it’s imperative to take the appropriate steps. Confronting the issue of your child’s use requires an understanding of the situation. It’s advisable to plan out discussion points to better tackle the issue.

After living a life of chaos, destruction and constant let downs, Mark was able to make a complete turnaround that sparked a new way of life. At WhiteSands Treatment, we offer support to you in your homes or when you are out living in your daily lives. Regardless of when an intervention actually takes place, it is highly recommended to seek guidance from an interventionist. They will be able to supervise the intervention and make sure the conversation goes as smoothly as possible.

Get Help to End Drug Addiction

In this article, we will discuss the common signs of drug use and how to tell if someone is on drugs. The clinical manifestation of abrupt cessation of a substance of abuse is withdrawal. Symptoms of withdrawal range from sweatiness, shakiness, tremors, and seizures to upset stomach, diarrhea, and vomiting. Irritability, agitation, restlessness, and sleep disruption are common withdrawal symptoms for many drugs as are muscle cramps, headaches, and changes in blood pressure and heart rate. Drug cravings can be fierce, and fear of withdrawal symptoms often drives continued drug use. Withdrawal symptoms occur when drug use is abruptly stopped or the dosage is sharply diminished.

Snorting drugs like cocaine can damage the mucous membrane inside the nose. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, signs of drug use alcohol abuse can cause blackouts and memory loss. A person may have flushed skin and broken capillaries, particularly in the face.

Substance Use Treatment

Psychological dependence is a term sometimes used to indicate the mental processes of addiction, but it has no real meaning given current understanding of the way the brain works. There is no real difference between physical addiction and psychological addiction. Addiction is one of those conditions that demonstrates it is not possible to distinguish between physical and psychological aspects of behavior. While the best-known signs of addiction may be physical changes in a person—weight loss to the point of emaciation, the red face of problem drinkers—those occur late in the course of substance use.

• They may also choose to spend more time than usual away from home to hide their use.
• Due to the toxic nature of these substances, users may develop brain damage or sudden death.
• Researchers have long observed that alcohol use increases during recessions.
• According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, alcohol abuse can cause blackouts and memory loss.

Your loved one may show signs of an increased need for money with little explanation as to why. Loved ones should also research comprehensive addiction treatment programs. Treatment should include both medical detox and therapy to address the underlying issues related to substance abuse. A person on a stimulant may exhibit frequent behavior changes, aggression, or rapid or rambling speech. They may display dilated pupils, increased energy, and a fast breathing rate.

Familiarizing Yourself with the Signs of Opioid Addiction in Adults

Barbiturates are no longer used as frequently as they once were, but they are nevertheless occasionally used to treat seizure disorders and during surgery. It’s also recommended that households with a person with opioid addiction keep a supply of Narcan (naloxone). The drug, which may be taken as a nasal spray or injection, can rapidly counteract a narcotic overdose.