Sierra Tucson offers effective, comprehensive treatment for individuals struggling with addiction and mental health concerns. Learn more about the signs and symptoms of drug addiction.

Understanding Drug Addiction

Learn about drug addiction

Defined as the continued harmful use of drugs and/or alcohol for mood altering purposes, substance abuse is a serious problem that can result in a number of negative physical, emotional, and social consequences. Those with substance use disorders will continue to use drugs and/or alcohol despite the adverse effects that are occurring around them. Furthermore, the longer the abuse continues, the greater the likelihood that tolerance and an addiction will develop, of which will only exacerbate the situation. When an addiction is present, an individual’s life will become consumed by their drug of choice, and daily responsibilities will go by the wayside, as their main goal is obtaining and using drugs and/or alcohol.

Today some of the most commonly abused substances include alcohol, marijuana, prescription pain medication, heroin, methamphetamines, cocaine, stimulants such as Adderall, and central nervous system depressants such as benzodiazepines. When an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol has developed, it can be extremely difficult for an individual to stop using on their own. The good news is, there are many treatment options available to help adults of all genders overcome the devastating cycle of addiction.

Statistics

Drug addiction statistics

Researchers estimate that over 9% of the total population in the United States has used or abused substances at some point in life. This statistic accounts for people of all ages, including children, adolescents, adults, and senior adults. Furthermore, researchers state that this percentage will only continue to rise.

Causes and Risk Factors

Causes and risk factors for drug addiction

Most professionals in the field of mental health and addiction agree that there are a number of factors that play a role in whether or not an individual will choose to use substances and potentially go on to develop an addiction. The following are some of these specific variables and risk factors that may play a role in the development of a substance abuse problem:

Genetic: Years of research conducted on substance abuse and the development of an addiction have come to the conclusion that the presence of a family history of substance abuse can put an individual at an increased risk for substance abuse and addiction. This indicates that there may be a genetic predisposition to the development of an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol.

Environmental: It is also widely accepted that environmental factors play a significant role in the development of a substance abuse disorder or addiction. For example, things such as being the victim of physical or sexual abuse or neglect, as well as experiencing a traumatic event can all place an individual at an increased risk for abusing substances. Furthermore, when a person has easy access to drugs and/or alcohol, they are more likely to begin using.

Risk Factors:

Presence of a mental health condition
Family history of mental illness and/or chemical dependency
Low self-esteem
Low socioeconomic status
Having easy access to substances
Lack of appropriate coping skills

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of drug addiction

The signs and symptoms of substance abuse are going to differ depending upon the actual substances that an individual is abusing, as well as additional individual characteristics, which may include frequency of abuse and duration of abuse. The following are examples of possible signs and symptoms that may indicate the presence of a substance abuse problem:

Behavioral symptoms:

Increased aggression
Excessive hyperactivity or lethargy
Sudden changes in social network
Engagement in reckless behaviors
No longer participating in activities that were once enjoyed
Social isolation
Lying
Stealing
Frequent absences from work
Not meeting responsibilities
Increased conflict with others

Physical symptoms:

Poor hygiene
Shakiness
Excessive sweating
Changes in eating patterns
Blood shot or glazed eyes
Abrupt changes in weight
Insomnia or hypersomnia
Muscle tension
Chronic headaches
Nausea and vomiting

Cognitive symptoms:

Impaired coordination
Problems with concentration
Disorientation
Paranoia
Psychosis
Poor decision-making
Lack of sound judgment
Delayed thought processes
Hallucinations
Delusions
Detachment from reality
Inability to reason
Impaired memory

Psychosocial symptoms:

Heightened levels of anxiety and depression
Excessive irritability and agitation
Suicidal ideation
Changes in temperament
Rapidly changing moods
Periods of emotional detachment
Inability to experience pleasure

Effects

Effects of drug addiction

Prolonged, chronic substance abuse can lead to a vast number of negative effects that can ultimately destroy a person’s life. If this abuse is not properly treated, it will most likely get worse over time and produce the following consequences:

Decline in one’s overall physical and mental health
Development of a mental health disorder
Decline in occupational functioning
Job loss
Irreversible cognitive impairment
Malnutrition
Financial difficulty
Conflict among family and friends
Compromised immune system
Central nervous system damage
Heart damage
Lung problems
Stroke
Seizures
Coma
Onset of self-harming behaviors
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Overdose
Death

Co-Occurring Disorders

Drug addiction and co-occurring disorders

More often than not, individuals who are struggling with a substance abuse problem are also suffering from another type of mental health disorder. In some instances, the abuse of drugs and/or alcohol can exacerbate the symptoms of a pre-existing mental health disorder or can bring about the development of new symptoms. The following are some of the most commonly diagnosed co-occurring mental health conditions known to exist alongside substance use disorders:

Eating disorders
Borderline personality disorder
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Posttraumatic stress disorder
Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder
Depressive disorders
Anxiety disorders
Additional substance use disorders

Withdrawal and Overdose

Effects of drug withdrawal and overdose

Effects of withdrawal from substances: Whenever substances are used consistently, and then their use is suddenly stopped, the development of withdrawal symptoms is likely to occur. Some of the most common symptoms of withdrawal may include:

Intense cravings
Anxiety or depression
Excessive sweating
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Tremors
Hot and cold flashes
Panic attacks
Muscle and bone pain
Psychosis
Suicidal ideation
Seizures
Paranoia

Effects of an overdose on substances:

No matter the substance, when an individual takes more than the body can metabolize, an overdose is often the result. An overdose is considered a medical emergency and treatment should be sought immediately. Examples of signs that could be indicative of an overdose may include: