Whether it’s a struggle with opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, or another drug, addiction impacts the lives of millions of Americans every year. Today, medical professionals view addiction as a disease that compels someone to repeatedly use or seek out substances despite the adverse consequences that follow. Fortunately, as society learns more about addiction and the struggles those with addiction — and their loved ones — face, the stigma surrounding it has started to fade.
But it wasn’t always this way. For many years, people viewed addiction as a moral failing or a conscious choice, believing that those who became or remained addicted did so willingly. That misconception made it difficult, and sometimes impossible, to talk openly about addiction.
Signs My Loved One Is Addicted to Drugs
Today, over twenty-one million Americans live with at least one addiction, and thousands die each year from overdose or other drug-related events. To help someone struggling with addiction effectively, it’s essential to know what addiction actually looks like. Recognizing the signs and symptoms is the first step toward helping your loved one get to rehab. Addiction tends to show up in three main ways — behavioral, physical, and psychological — and although these signs appear differently in each person, certain indicators tend to show up to varying degrees.
Behavioral Signs
Behavioral signs relate to a person’s relationship with substances, separate from any physical or emotional difficulties. Some of the most common include obsessing over using or obtaining substances, disregarding the harm their use causes to themselves or others, denial, hiding drug use, stealing money or drugs, and increased legal or financial difficulties.
Physical Signs
Physical signs are often visible to those around the person, whether as side effects of use or as symptoms of withdrawal. Common physical signs include weight changes, disrupted sleep patterns, an unkempt appearance, stomach upset, slurred speech or poor coordination, and changes in pupil size.
Psychological Signs
Ongoing addiction can also take a real emotional toll. For some, that shows up as anger, hostility, and aggression; for others, it means worsening or entirely new mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
Because these signs look different for each person, and because specific drugs can produce their own unique symptoms, it can be genuinely difficult to tell whether what you’re seeing relates to addiction, overdose, or withdrawal. Either way, the best chances for sobriety and long-term success come with early, comprehensive addiction treatment — our guide to signs of substance abuse in a loved one covers these patterns in more depth.
How to Talk to Someone About Their Addiction
Helping a loved one struggling with addiction can be difficult and emotionally draining. Unlike a physical health condition, where outcomes and symptoms are often clear, someone with an addiction may not recognize the true danger of their illness or understand the risks of ignoring it or trying to recover without help. It’s essential to remember that your loved one has to recognize their addiction first before they can understand the value of rehab — and only then can they become ready and willing to address it.
The first step is approaching the conversation in a way that doesn’t feel intimidating. For example, start by talking to them one-on-one rather than staging a full intervention. Find a time when you can talk without distractions or interruptions, and be honest about your fears and concerns without placing blame or making accusations. Keep in mind that they may not be ready or willing to hear you out right away, but let them know you’re available and willing to listen. If they become defensive, let it go for now rather than pushing further. Avoid threats or shame — instead, consider talking with other family members about planning a more structured intervention for a later date.
Let California Recovery Center Do the Heavy Lifting
It can be hard to approach the subject of addiction with a loved one on your own. If you’re concerned about a loved one who may be struggling with addiction, reach out to our admissions team today. Our admissions staff can guide you and offer advice on how to approach the idea of addiction treatment with your loved one. The best opportunity for sobriety comes with early, individualized, comprehensive addiction treatment, like what you’ll find at our Northern California rehab. If you’re concerned about a friend or loved one, don’t wait another day — reach out to our admissions team today.
