In 2013, 30 percent of overdose deaths involved benzodiazepines like Klonopin, Xanax, or Valium, either alone or in combination with other drugs. If you have identified some of these signs in yourself or someone you love, you may want to reach out to an intervention specialist. Addiction is difficult to talk about, even with those you are very close to. An intervention specialist will help your family approach the topic of addiction with clarity and understanding and can provide invaluable support and advice.
- If the signs and symptoms above remind you of yourself or they sound like the behaviors of a close friend or family member, it’s time to get help.
- This hotline was created to ensure that individuals who are experiencing mental health-related distress can connect with compassionate support.
- You should be prepared to offer your teen help or ready to find a teen rehab center should you need it.
- Another potential sign of drug use is the presence of unexplained marks or bruises on the body.
Explore the significance of trauma-informed therapy, its benefits, and how it can enhance patient experiences and improve overall well-being. Find out how to use empowering questions to cultivate a healthier relationship with alcohol. When couples want to renew their love for each other and ask for my guidance, I help them explore how they lost each other so that they will never allow for those behaviors again. Switching to “finite” games could help you find balance in your life. If your drug use is out of control or causing problems, talk to your doctor. You’ll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox.
Teen Drug Abuse: The Warning Signs
Addiction involves both the mind and the body—and every other facet of existence, because they all interact. There is no real distinction between physical addiction and psychological addiction. Substances of abuse affect the reward system of the brain, mediated by the neurotransmitter dopamine. The physical changes to the pleasure-experiencing centers of the brain induce physical changes to the prefrontal cortex, weakening the capacity for decision-making and impulse control. If you or a loved one need treatment for a drug or alcohol use disorder, you can search recovery resources by zip code or call The Recovery Village.
The earlier you get treatment for drug addiction (also called substance use disorder) the more likely you are to avoid some of the more dire consequences of the disease. Not everyone who uses drugs or alcohol has a substance abuse problem. However, about 10% of Americans struggle with substance abuse.
LSD (Acid) Effects
It’s important to note that these signs should be considered collectively and in the context of the individual’s overall behavior and well-being. No single sign is definitive proof of drug use, but when multiple signs are present, it may indicate a deeper issue. Alcohol is a legal intoxicating substance in the United States if the person is at least 21 years old. Despite its legal status, about 17 million adults, ages 18 and older, struggle with alcohol use disorder, or alcoholism. Clients who attend our center follow personalized treatment plans that include counseling, resilience building, and medical detox. Discover the transformative benefits of outpatient substance abuse treatment.
Another sign that your teen is using drugs includes changes in dress or hygiene. For example, your child used to do a good job of taking a shower, brushing after meals, and using deodorant. At first, it was a shower skipped one night, then it becomes several days in between baths. Things like brushing the hair or even washing the face just aren’t important anymore. If left untreated drug addiction can lead to serious, life-altering effects on the body. People with drug addictions continue to use drugs compulsively, despite the negative effects.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse
If you grew up with family troubles and aren’t close to your parents or siblings, it may raise your chances of addiction. Your brain is wired to make you want to repeat experiences that make you feel good. While you can treat addiction, in most cases, someone with addiction must want to change for recovery to be successful. Synthetic cannabinoids, also called K2 or Spice, are sprayed on dried herbs and then smoked, but can be prepared as an herbal tea. Despite manufacturer claims, these are chemical compounds rather than “natural” or harmless products. These drugs can produce a “high” similar to marijuana and have become a popular but dangerous alternative.
- Being Dishonest or Sneaky, Hiding Things, or Needing Increased Privacy.
- Someone who abuses drugs uses a substance too much, too frequently, or in otherwise unhealthy ways.
- If they have a job or career, you may also notice declining performance in the professional aspects as drug use becomes the number one priority.
- Addiction—to prescription and street drugs and alcohol —is a serious problem.
If you believe that your loved one is, in fact, abusing drugs or alcohol, talking to them about getting help is critical. These CNS depressants signs of drug use are often prescribed to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. Benzodiazepines include common medications, such as Valium and Xanax.
Recognizing an addiction problem in someone you know can be harder than it seems. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic disease that affects the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory functions. Someone with an addiction will crave a substance or other behavioral habits. They’ll often ignore other areas of life to fulfill or support their desires. When someone begins using drugs of any kind, they may start feeling as if they need larger and more frequent doses to get the same effects, even with something that started as social experimentation.
Withdrawal can require medical treatment when a person abruptly stops heavy substance use. For some individuals, substance abuse begins when they start socially experimenting with various substances. This can be the case with drugs such as amphetamines, alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs. Drug addictions can be extremely costly, depending on the substance used. A person may repeatedly ask to borrow money from friends or family members or sell their possessions to maintain their drug addiction. If someone does not get help for their substance use disorder, they may risk extreme financial stress and could face bankruptcy.
Look for changes in health
Barbiturates, benzodiazepines and hypnotics are prescription central nervous system depressants. They’re often used and misused in search for a sense of relaxation or a desire to “switch off” or forget stress-related thoughts or feelings. If you find smoking devices, needles, oil vaporizers, or stashes of different devices needed for drug use, you may want to discuss with your loved one what those items are and why they have them. While we are unable to respond to your feedback directly, we’ll use this information to improve our online help. The following are tips on how to talk to a loved one about their substance use.
However, it becomes a concern if the entire crowd is replaced by new people. All teenagers want some private space and that is completely normal. For this reason, you should remember to knock before entering your teen’s room. However, when the need for privacy becomes extreme, it could be a sign of drug use. By Laura Dorwart
Laura Dorwart is a health journalist with particular interests in mental health, pregnancy-related conditions, and disability rights. She has published work in VICE, SELF, The New York Times, The Guardian, The Week, HuffPost, BuzzFeed Reader, Catapult, Pacific Standard, Health.com, Insider, Forbes.com, TalkPoverty, and many other outlets.
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