Substance abuse is one of the nation’s biggest public health challenges. The data behind it tells a story of pain and loss: emergency room visits, deaths, broken relationships, and lost jobs. Given the toll on individuals and society, we must seek to understand the signs of addiction. When you see these signs, seek treatment at a substance abuse treatment center.
Seeking help should never make you feel shame. No one purposely sets out to abuse substances. Addiction happens for many different reasons, and the risk factors are often beyond your control, such as genetic, environmental, and societal. Recognizing the signs of addiction can be the first step toward recovery. If you need treatment for an alcohol or drug addiction, contact the experts at TruHealing Centers today.
Signs of Addiction
The signs of addiction are often subtle and occasionally hard to spot, partly because people with substance abuse challenges can skillfully hide their behaviors. That makes it difficult for friends and family, who may want to reach out but are nervous to do so for fear of straining the relationship. If you notice a certain string of problems in yourself or a loved one, it’s time to pay attention.
Some of the most common signs of addiction include:
- Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea
- Moodiness
- Interrupted sleep
- Problems with relationships
- Engaging in risky behaviors, such as intoxicated driving
- Weight loss or weight gain
- Change in eating habits
- Manic behaviors
No single one of these signs conclusively proves a problem with addiction. But multiple signs of addiction can indicate that treatment from a professional facility such as TruHealing Centers is necessary.
Facts About Addiction
It’s impossible to go a day without hearing about a tragedy brought on by substance abuse. In the past two decades, the biggest problems have been caused by waves of addiction to opioids. This wave of opioid addiction started with prescription opiates such as OxyContin, followed by an epidemic of addiction to heroin and synthetic opioids.
The cost of substance abuse is enormous and is estimated at $740 billion per year, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Personal loss is the most devastating biggest cost. According to NIDA, more than 67,000 people died from overdoses of various forms of drugs in 2018, the most recent year available.
Synthetic opioids account for just a little less than half of the deaths, followed by prescription opioids, heroin, and cocaine. The country has seen increases in every category of an overdose over the last twenty years.
Looking for the signs of addiction can help keep you or someone you care about from becoming another statistic.
Treatment for Addiction
Knowing the signs of addiction can provide the impetus to seek help. While every individual patient is different, treatment does have a common set of protocols. It starts with a thorough clinical assessment, so addiction professionals understand both your medical and psychological history. The more they know about how you got to this point, the easier it is for them to help.
The next step is enrolling in a medical detox center, which can be done either on an inpatient or outpatient basis. In detox, medical professionals will help provide care as you wean yourself from the substance of choice and help you through an intense period of withdrawal.
The next phase of treatment involves individual or group counseling. Therapy is designed to help you get to the root of your challenges and build coping skills.
Substance abuse disorders are chronic conditions, so aftercare is also vitally important to reduce the risk of relapse.
Get Help for Addiction Issues Today at TruHealing Centers
If you see the signs of addiction in yourself or someone you love, don’t deal with it alone. The professionals at TruHealing Centers are here for you. Our clinical professionals and addiction specialists use evidence-based approaches to build a treatment plan that’s right for you. We will help you heal and find the right path back toward sobriety. To find out more, contact an addiction specialist today at [Direct]. The future is in your hands.