Identifying Drug Addiction

Addiction is easier to fight when it’s identified and intervened on in the early stages.

When an individual comes to treatment early, before they hit the rock bottom, it is easier for them to overcome their addiction.

Overcoming drug addiction is the greatest and the best thing a person can do for themselves.

Once they have been successful in their battle against addiction, they will be able to start working on a healthier lifestyle, and they’ll also have a safer and more stable home life.

So, how do we start identifying drug addiction?

Below is a list of the common physical and behavioral signs and symptoms in identifying a person’s drug addiction.

• Anxiety and irritability
• Changes in attitude or friends with no identifiable cause or reason
• Confusion
• A constant need for money
• Hyperactivity
• Mood swings
• Needle marks
• Physical withdrawal symptoms when not taking the drug
• Poor work or school performance
• Preoccupation with doing or obtaining drugs
• Problems with coordination
• Red eyes
• Runny nose
• Tremors and shakiness
• Unusual weight loss or weight gain

Before an individual can enter drug addiction treatment rehab centers, they must first be diagnosed with drug addiction.

This can be done by a general practice doctor or an addiction specialist, such as a licensed counselor or psychologist.

After undergoing a physical exam, an individual will answer questions about their drug use.

The physical exam and the answers to the questions will be used to help the doctor make a diagnosis.

If you have identified drug addiction, what is the next step?

First, you will need to select a treatment program.

Getting an individual into treatment when they are ready to address drug abuse is crucial.

Once they are ready to go to treatment, they can meet with an addiction treatment specialist for an assessment.

But remember, you should do research first. The type of drug addiction treatment used will depend on each individual’s situation.

There are treatment plans that include inpatient and outpatient treatment, followed by a stay in a halfway house.

Recovering drug abusers can also go to outpatient treatment for months or years after they complete their initial treatment, in order to avoid relapse.

Once the best treatment plan has been decided, you can organize an intervention.

Many drug addicts are in denial, unwilling to admit to themselves or others that they are addicted to drugs at all, and most likely they believe that they can stop whenever they want.

This is rarely true, and most addicts need to be convinced to go into rehab.

This is when a planned and supervised intervention can help.

During the intervention, a drug abuser’s loved ones will gather together and confront the addict about his/her problem with drug abuse, and its effects on the people around them.