When someone starts using drugs, there is always a chance that they will begin abusing whatever substances they use. After an extended period of this misuse, with some drugs taking shorter than others, that abuse may turn into a full-blown addiction. When this happens to a loved one, though, it can sometimes be easy to overlook some of the signs of drug addiction before the substance takes hold of their behavior and won’t let go.
If you suspect that a family member has a substance abuse problem, one or more of the following signs may become apparent and it may be time to discuss rehab with them.
Emotional and Physical Changes
One of the more common symptoms of drug abuse is drastic drops in weight and changes to the overall health of the user. Some of those health issues involve visible things like bloody noses, sores on the skin, red eyes, and more.
They will also appear unable to properly control how much and when they use drugs or drink alcohol. Likewise, they may not function right at work or school anymore, which may lead to punishments like suspension or expulsion (or getting fired).
Defensiveness
Alongside emotional problems, addicted substance users may be very defensive about drug or alcohol consumption. If the topic of addiction is brought up, they will fight tooth and nail to try to prove that they’re not addicted and don’t need to quit. Those who are attempting to hide their drug use entirely may start defending drug users or drug use in general, even when unprompted.
Social Problems
Addicts may also start experiencing noticeable social problems, especially if he or she used to often go out with friends. If not, you might notice that they have stopped going to or socializing at outings with the family.
Noticing these problems is only the first step, though. If you suspect a loved one has a drug addiction problem and needs substance abuse treatment in Boca Raton, discuss it with them and contact us to learn more about the options available for rehabilitation.