Understanding Substance Use Disorder and Addiction
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 and often ignore other areas of life to fulfill or support their desires. The common signs of addiction that we see include lack of control, decreased socialization, ignoring risk factors, and physical effects. We’ve noticed that addiction is commonly associated with substance abuse, but behavioral addictions such as gambling are also serious. Studies suggest that behavioral addictions are as serious as substance addictions and result in dependency, with the same or similar negative consequences. Early signs of addiction may include experimentation, family history of addiction, being particularly drawn to an activity or substance, seeking out situations where the substance or activity is present, and episodes of binging or loss of control with little to no feelings of remorse after.
Signs of Substance Use Disorder
We know that addiction is a complex and serious disease that affects millions of people worldwide. It can have a devastating impact on an individual’s health, relationships, and overall well-being. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s important to understand the signs of addiction and when to seek help. At South Meadows Recovery, we’ve been seeing an influx of clients suffering from substance use disorder for all different types of substances.
Based on our experience, we’ve put forth the first step in determining whether you need addiction treatment is to understand the signs and symptoms of addiction.
The 8 signs of addiction include:
A loss of control over how much or how often you use a substance
A strong desire or cravings to use a substance
Difficulty reducing or stopping substance use
A negative impact on your physical and mental health
Difficulty fulfilling obligations at work, school, or home
Changes in behavior or mood, such as irritability or aggression
Neglecting important relationships or activities
Continued use of a substance despite negative consequences
If you are experiencing any of these signs, it’s important to seek professional help as soon as possible. Addiction treatment can help you regain control of your life and overcome the negative effects of addiction.
4 Questions To Determine Addiction
Another way to determine if you need addiction treatment is to conduct a self-assessment. Ask yourself questions such as:
Has my substance use caused problems in my relationships or at work?
Have I tried to quit but been unable to?
Do I feel like I need the substance to function or cope?
Have my personal or professional goals been negatively impacted by my substance use?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s likely that you need addiction treatment.
It’s important to remember that addiction is a disease and seeking help is not a sign of weakness. Addiction treatment centers offer a wide range of evidence-based therapies, services, and support to help individuals overcome addiction and achieve lasting recovery.
Recognizing the signs of addiction and understanding when to seek help is crucial for overcoming addiction. Addiction treatment centers offer a wide range of evidence-based therapies, services, and support to help individuals overcome addiction and achieve lasting recovery. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, don’t wait to seek help and contact South Meadows Recovery today.
