The former US Surgeon General famously stated that 1 out of every 7 Americans will face some sort of substance addiction issue. For many, that number was both shocking and sobering.
Given the volume of people that you know, 1 out of 7 people struggling addiction means that you likely know one or two people that are in desperate need of help.
As a matter of fact, that person who needs help might even be a person that lives in your home.
If youâre suspicious that somebody you know might be battling substance abuse, our recommendation is that you keep an eye out for common addict behavior patterns to better determine if thereâs a need to intervene.
Below, we outline 7 of the most common tells that people show when theyâre addicted.
1. Taking Drugs Without an Active Prescription
While there are a number of people addicted to drugs that they get from a physician, most doctors tightly control prescriptions to make it hard if not impossible for addicts to sustain their habit. Therefore, thereâs a good chance that the person you know whoâs struggling is getting their drugs either without a prescription or by defrauding the medical system.
A common fraud tactic is going to multiple doctors in hopes of picking up 2, 3 or even more prescriptions for the same drug.
If your loved one is getting drugs and theyâre not being seen by a single doctor, thereâs a high chance that addiction is at the root of their behavior.
2. Constant Fixation
Stop us if youâve heard this oneâŚ
Your loved one is out and suddenly theyâre making it a point to get home as soon as possible because they need their medication. Alternatively, theyâre frequently taking breaks from activities to fumble through their pocket or purse to take their medication multiple times a day.
Addiction and fixation are two things that are tightly intertwined. It makes it so itâs almost impossible for an addict to focus on anything but their substance of choice for longer than an hour or so.
If youâre constantly hearing about your loved oneâs substance or if youâre noticing that theyâre planning their day around being able to acquire it, youâre observing classic addict behavior that requires professional intervention.
3. They Wonât Test Their Willpower
If youâve ever confronted your loved one about their potential addiction, youâve probably heard a response like, âI can stop whenever I want. This is a choice.â
While that line is a common one that addicts throw around, itâs almost never followed by an addict proving their point by actually stopping.
So, if youâre seeing that your loved one talks about being able to stop or even says that theyâre going to stop soon but they never take action, know that they likely canât.
4. Being Sick When Not Using Is Common
Addict behavior dictates that sufferers can never feel their best without being under the influence.
Sometimes, this can manifest itself in the way of being irritable or exhausted. Other times, not being under the influence of a substance causes addicts to be downright ill.
In any case, people that canât have a good day if theyâre not using are almost always on the spectrum of addiction.
5. Attention to Other Things Has Faded
Since addiction demands an addictâs full attention, youâll find that victims canât bring themselves to pull their focus elsewhere.
Hobbies fall by the waist side. Relationships wain. Personal hygiene becomes an afterthought.
All of those things then culminate into creating a person that looks sick, smells foul and has no passion for anything.
If thatâs where your loved one is trending, taking action is a must. This is around where severe depression may start to set in and overdoing/suicide is a real risk.
6. Higher Doses Are Being Taken
The body becomes numb to the effects of drugs and alcohol quickly. This is the bodyâs way of coping with prolonged exposure to state-altering substances.
Unfortunately, that coping mechanism leads addicts to feel frustrated when they canât seem to enjoy the same feeling that they enjoyed when they first started using. To cope, addicts double, triple, quadrupedal, etc. their dosages.
7. Defensiveness
People using medication in a way thatâs approved by a physician generally have nothing to hide. Consequently, theyâll be open to your conversations and concerns.
People that know theyâre doing what they shouldnât, on the other hand, donât want to talk about their habits. Those people exhibit the addict behavior of defensiveness which leads to shouting matches and deflection.
Our recommendation if youâre not able to get through to a loved one because of their defensive attitude is to stage an intervention with the aim of getting the person youâre concerned about into drug treatment.
Our Final Thoughts on Addict Behavior and Addiction
If youâre suspicious that somebody you know is struggling with addiction, the best thing that you can do is watch out for common addict behavior tells. If youâre noticing one of multiple signs being exhibited, do what you can to respectfully confront the person in question and help them into rehab.
When you find that your best efforts are being met with rebuffs, set boundaries and go so far as to excommunicate until your loved one is ready for real help.
Navigating lifeâs various struggles and questions can be difficult. Our team at InNewsWeekly aims to make things more simple.
For more information, take a moment to browse more of our newest health/lifestyle content today.