[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Not all drug addicts give themselves over to the dark side, and addiction does not always comprise using any illicit substance excessively.  

As a result, it is hard to determine if your loved one is silently begging for help or not. Moreover, the symptoms and signs of addiction differ in every person. A person’s behavior is impacted by various factors like genetics, lifestyle, weight, and the substances they take. Nonetheless, you should recognize the signs because this information is vital for bringing back your loved one from the edge. 

One of the biggest signs of addiction is that the illegal substance becomes the person’s main focus. The substance consumes their mind throughout the day, which is why they spend most of their time looking for resources from where they can buy it. Their interests, involvements, and activities take a back seat as the addiction progresses. They begin neglecting work, home, or school responsibilities. Anything they previously enjoyed now becomes dull compared to taking a hit of their favorite drug. 

It’s difficult to convince your loved one affected by addiction to voluntarily seek help from a drug and alcohol treatment center in Metuchen, NJ. There’s nothing you can do except for pushing them in the right direction. The rest falls on the treatment professional. A therapist will slowly discuss their situation, seek answers to their addiction, and determine what kind of help they need.  

Why Is It Important to Seek Help? 

When a person takes drugs for the first time, their body is not accustomed to their effects. They feel the substance intensely. As time passes and the abuse continues, the body adapts to the effects, increasing the tolerance level. As a result, the body’s need for a stronger dose increases to get the same high they experienced when they took the drug the first time. 

As the drug amount increases, the person puts themselves in danger of overdose. Let’s take heroin as an example. This drug is a depressant. If taken in large amounts, it lowers pulse rate and breathing. This might cause the person to go into a coma or lead to their death. 

Drug abuse affects you in four ways, which are explained below: 

Signs of Addiction 

Physical  

The physical effects of alcohol are quite damaging. Depending on how long the drug abuse continues, these effects can turn deadly. You will notice the following physical signs when your loved one is taking drugs: 

• Not being able to perform sexually due to issues like erectile dysfunction and low sex drive 
• Stumbling and loss of coordination 
• Stomach cramps 

• Weight loss 
• Under or overactive 
• Unexplained bruises and cuts 
• Runny nose or excessive sniffing  
• Red eyes and dilated pupils  

Psychological 

Since alcohol and drugs affect the mental functioning of a person, it can damage their ability to exhibit good judgment and think clearly. These effects become apparent in certain behaviors that include: 

• Hallucinations 
• Sleep pattern changes 
• Becoming overly withdrawn or talkative  

• Talk of self-harm or suicide 
• Loss of confidence or becoming cocky 

Relational 

Drug abuse affects the person with the addiction issues as well as the people around them. You will see a distinct change in how the person with addiction talks with you. Their demeanor with other people will also change, and they will stop caring about maintaining relationships. A few relational signs of drug abuse include: 

• Violent arguments 

• Difficulty holding conversations 
• Isolation 
• Perceiving normal communication as a provocation 
• Distancing oneself from important relationships 
• Asking for money constantly 

• Sudden marital problems 
• Missing school or work  

Emotional 

A common addiction sign is emotional volatility. Manic and unpredictable behavior often accompanies alcohol and drug use. Your loved one’s demeanor changes and they become less empathic to anyone’s woes and worries. They might even joke about them. A few potential emotional signs include: 

• Defensiveness 

• Crying spells 
• Verbal or physical abuse 
• Bouts of hysteria 
• Irritability 
• Depression or anxiety 

• Loss of interest 
• Dejection 

The truth about addiction is that once it gets a hold of your loved one, it can be very difficult to convince them to seek out help. All you can do is show the person battling addiction you are there for them. Eventually, the decision to go to a drug and alcohol treatment center in Metuchen, NJ, should be theirs. More Life Recovery Center offers some amazing treatment programs and therapies to treat people with addictions. To know more about how they can help your loved one, call 1 (888) 825-8689. 

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substance abuse treatment