Physical Signs of a Substance Abuse Problem

March 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

While your friends and family may notice that you have a drug or alcohol problem just from the way that you are acting there are actually many types of physical warning signs that there is a drug abuse or alcohol abuse problem going on. These physical warning signs can show up anywhere from a few hours after using the drug or alcohol, to a few days after using the drugs or alcohol. Here’s a look at some of the physical signs that there could be a drug or alcohol abuse problem going on.

The Eyes. Those that have a drug or alcohol abuse problem will generally exhibit signs of having bloodshot eyes or the pupils will appear larger or smaller than normal.

Sleep Or Appetite Changes. Those that have a drug or alcohol abuse problem will show signs of changes in their appetite or sleep cycle. People who generally had a large appetite will usually start to eat less, while those that had a small appetite will generally start overeat. The sleep cycle will often be changed and people who sleep for hours will usually stay out all night and can often go days without sleep, while others who could do without sleep will generally need to sleep for hours.

Physical Appearance. Changes in a person’s physical appearance can also be assigned a drug or alcohol abuse problems. Those that abuse drugs or alcohol will not usually take the time to groom themselves, bathe regularly or take care of their physical appearance.

Other Physical Signs. Depending upon whether the person abuses drugs or alcohol there other physical signs that there could be a drug or alcohol problem. These signs can include slurred speech, impaired coordination, tremors and even having physical track marks due to drug use.

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Psychological Signs of Drug or Alcohol Abuse

February 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Drug and alcohol abuse problems can exhibit itself in three different ways. A person can have physical signs, behavioral signs and psychological signs. These signs and symptoms can help friends and family members know if there is an actual drug or alcohol problem going on. Here’s a look at some of the psychological problems and signs that many drug and alcohol abusers show.

Changes in Personality. There is often an extreme change in personality or attitude of the person who is using drugs or alcohol. Sometimes these changes can be explained such as a death in the family or stress at work. However, the use of drugs and alcohol will often cause the abuser or addict to have extreme changes in behavior or attitude.

Mood Swings. Due to the chemical imbalance that drugs and alcohol causes the abuser of drugs and alcohol can often have extreme mood swings, sudden angry outburst and irritability that really have no explanation at all.

Hyperactivity. Extreme periods of hyperactivity, giddiness and agitation are often a sign that there is a psychological problem that could be a result of the drugs and alcohol.

Decrease in Motivation. There is often an extreme decrease in motivation for work, personal life or schoolwork. The drug and alcohol user will often appear lethargic or, since if they are on a different plane as if they are spaced out. This is often a result of the effect of the drug has on the person.

Paranoia. Drug users and alcohol users often have periods of prayer:, paranoia and anxiousness without having logical reasons for feeling this way. This is because internally they know that what they are doing is wrong and are often fearful of being caught or called out on their drug or alcohol problem.

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Behavioral Signs of a Drug or Alcohol Problem

February 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Drug and alcohol abuse can often see show itself by having the abuser exhibit behavioral changes. These behavioral changes will usually come along with the physical and psychological changes of drug and alcohol abuse. Here’s a look at some of the behavioral changes that many drug and alcohol abusers will exhibit.

A Sudden Change In Work or School. Drug and alcohol abusers will exhibit setting changes in their work or school schedule. This can be a change in the attitude that they take toward school or work or by changing the amount of time that they spend on school or work.

A Sudden Need For Money. Everyone needs money in order to survive. However, those with drug or alcohol problems will usually exhibit a unusual need for money when they generally do not need that amount money before.

Financial Problems. Sudden financial problems can also be also be a sign that there is a drug or alcohol problem. This is because the money will tend to be going towards drugs or alcohol.

Secretive Behavior. Many drug and alcohol abusers will start to exhibit secretive or suspicious behavior. This can include going out at night, unexplained absences, or being in places they generally would not be. When asked about this the person will generally give a random excuse or have a hard time explaining why they were there.

Frequent Trouble. Frequently getting into trouble both legally and personally can be a sign that there is a drug or alcohol problem. Drug or alcohol use can usually lead to many legal problems as well as problems with personal relationships and friends and family. If a person who generally do not get in trouble with the law suddenly starts exhibiting problems with the law it could be a sign that there is a drug or alcohol problem.

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How to Tell if Your Teenager Has a Drug or Alcohol Problem Part 2

February 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Being a parent is never easy. Being a parent of a teenager is even harder. One of the most difficult task parent faces is the ability to notice if their child is showing signs of a drug or alcohol problem. This is often difficult for many parents because some of the same exact sign that are used to distinguish drugs and alcohol problems are signs of your teenager growing up. Here’s a look at some more signs that many teenagers exhibit when there could be a drug or alcohol problem in existence.

Sudden Change in Friends. Many teenagers who have drug or alcohol problems will experience a sudden change in friends. Older friends will no longer want to hang out with them and your friends will start to show up unexpectedly. This can be distinguished as many teenagers will experience a change in a large group of friends.

New Interests. If your teenager is exhibiting signs of a complete change in clothing, music and other items this could be a sign of drug and alcohol problems. While changing is a part of becoming a teenager studying extreme changes can often be a sign that there is something more going on.

Changes in Behavior. Teenagers who have drug and alcohol problems will often skip school or have decreased motivation for school work. These are generally teenagers who enjoy going to school or at least did well in school.

Use of Perfume. If you notice that your teenagers walking in with extreme air fresheners or perfume it could be a sign that they’re trying to mask the owners of drugs and alcohol.

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How to Tell if Your Teen May Have a Drug or Alcohol Problem Part 1

February 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment

When a teenager is using drugs or alcohol is up to the parent to discover the problem and help get them the help that they need. The problem is that many signs of drug and alcohol use can often be mistaken for normal teenage behavior. Here is a look at some of the things that parents should be aware of which can help them narrow down if their child may be experiencing a drug or alcohol problem.

Secretive. Many teenagers will often become secretive about who they are hanging around with and about their possessions. To an extent this is normal teenage behavior. However, if it they become extremely agitated when asked it could be a sign that there is more going on.

Privacy. Teenagers often need their privacy. However, avoiding family members, having doors locked when there is no need to have the door locked and other secretive behavior can often be assigned there is drug and alcohol use going on.

Missing Items. Many family members will notice missing items throughout the house. This is often because the teenagers unable to afford the drug or alcohol habit and often steal items such as money and valuables in order to fund the drug habit.

Increased Use of Eyedrops. Many teenagers who use drugs or alcohol will often start to use eyedrops as a way to mask their bloodshot eyes. If there is no logical reason for your child to be using eyedrops constantly it could be a sign that there is drug or alcohol use going on.

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How to Tell if You Might Have a Drug Problem Part 1

February 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Many people who have a substance abuse problem know they have a problem. The problem is that after time these people will generally start to consider their habits and behaviors normal and will slowly start to slip into denial. Denial is a perfectly normal part of substance abuse problems as it is a way for the substance abuser to rationalize their behavior and give reason to why they are doing it. If you think you may have a substance abuse problem here is some questions you can ask yourself to help you decide if you’re drinking or drug use might be a problem.

Do you often feel as if you are unable to stop the drugs and alcohol at any time? Many drug users believe that they can stop at any time but internally they know that they cannot stop their drug or alcohol use.

Are you overcome with feelings of guilt about your drug or alcohol use? Many drugs and alcohol users have extreme feelings of guilt about their use for drugs and alcohol. This is because they know that the use is wrong but still rationalize that it is okay.

Are drugs and alcohol being used as a relaxant or way to make you feel better? Drug and alcohol use can usually turn into a problem when it is being used as a way to relax the body or to cover up serious problems.

Are people complaining about your use of drugs or alcohol? Those that have a drug and alcohol problem often have others such as their boss, friends, or family members that complain about the use and bring up that it is causing problems.

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Teenage Alcoholism

September 13, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Researchers are discovering a wide range of short- and long-term health problems related to alcohol use among adults and teens. In the past, the U.S. government and British medical professionals have conducted several studies conducted on the health effects of both short-term and long-term use of alcohol among adults. For many years, people have known that alcoholism is a major cause of psoriasis of the liver.

More recently, doctors and clinicians are discovering that alcohol use causes liver damage, pancreatitis, cancer, and brain shrinkage. Alcohol use is also the second leading cause of dementia. It’s recently been discovered that individuals who use excessive amounts of alcohol age quicker. Medical professionals are worried about a steady rise in teen alcohol abuse and the negative effects of alcohol.

According to an article in the British Medical Journal (BMA), there is a rise in the proportion of 11 to 15 year olds who drink alcohol. The article also mentioned that teens are drinking more alcohol when they do drink. Adolescence is a time when young people’s bodies change. It’s a process where their hormones change, and their brain continues to develop. During this time, teenagers also find new friends and contacts. Their social lives become a priority. Teenagers often feel the need to fit in with the rest of crowd. As a result, it’s easy for teenagers to start drinking due to peer group pressure. They often make the wrong decision and turn to alcohol.

The U.S. government also released a publication titled Prevention Alert. The publication talked about teenage alcohol abuse and its negative side effects. The U.S government performed a study on the subject of teens and alcohol abuse. In a publication titled Prevention Alert, the government studies mentioned that memory problems were common amongst adolescents who drank excessively. Moreover, government researchers also claimed that teens that started drinking before age 15 were four times more likely to develop alcohol addiction at a later point in life. The study also attributed alcohol abuse to learning impairments that could affect academic achievement.

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What To Expect From Detox

August 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment
A drunk woman vomits, during a party in Zagreb...
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It is necessary for an addict, especially an alcoholic, to quit cold turkey when they stop using. Alcoholics cannot have one drink and be done with it. One drink is simply the gateway to more drinking and so it must be avoided at all cost. However, going off of a chemically dependent substance is one of the hardest things to do initially. It’s never easy quitting cold turkey and the detox itself can put you in a physically compromised state that could lead to hospitalization or even death. So if you are about make the decision to quit cold turkey you should understand that ins and outs of initial detox.

First you have to know that the severity of your symptoms during detox are usually dependant on how much you are dependant on the alcohol. In most cases the result of death during detox is usually in the case of patients who have had a severe alcohol dependency for years. So detoxing shouldn’t scare you to that extent. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be prepared.

The one thing you need to take care of before you decide to go cold turkey is consult a physician. Assuming you aren’t going the route of a rehab facility which will have doctors, nurses, and trained technicians to help you, then a doctor is your best bet. Be honest and upfront about the length and severity of your alcohol dependency so that your doctor can tell you what to expect and how to go about treating it.

Know that regardless of the length and depth of the dependency that there will be some physical as well as emotional adjustments that should be made. Vomiting, nausea, followed by symptoms like irritability and depression are all common symptoms of someone going through detox. Now, once again the severity that you will feel these symptoms depend a lot on you and your alcohol dependency but that doesn’t mean that mean it isn’t worth trying. It is a long hard road to recovery and the beginning and be the hardest but it’s always worth it.

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Filed Under: Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, Recovering, Substance Abuse Tagged With: , , ,

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

August 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment
AA meeting sign
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Alcoholics Anonymous or AA, teams up over 2 million individuals / members globally, stating its purpose to stay Alcohol free and willingly help other alcoholics attain freedom from the life dominated by Alcohol. AA was founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in the year 1935. AA group members share their experiences, strengths and hopes together, committing to solve their problems and help other Alcoholics. AA only requires you to maintain a will to give up Alcohol and no membership fee is necessary in order to be part of the fraternity. AA does not collaborate with, and is not endorsed by other organizations.
An alcoholic drink contains 0.6 ounces of pure ethyl alcohol (ethanol). Ethanol is instantly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. The central nervous system (CNS) depresses, preventing social inhibitions and relieving anxiety and pain. Extended intoxication and overdose can impair brain function and motor function (CNS). Alcoholism can increase risk of heart illnesses, certain cancers, strokes, liver disease and the developing fetus during pregnancy. Alcohol abuse can also indirectly harm interpersonal relationships and ability to work. A survey in 1996 showed that drunken driving is the cause of nearly half of fatal motor accidents. In a 2008 survey, SAMHSA indicated that 23 percent of the US population drank heavily.
AA members are inspired to abstain from alcohol one day at a time and proactively recover from the individual’s past perspective of the alcoholic’s life. Members are encouraged to find fellow group partners (sponsor), who will be of same gender and have experience of the ‘Twelve Steps’. Active participation by members reduces binge drinking and increases abstinence all the more. The AA Twelve Step program aims to create a spiritual awakening in the individual and sobriety to be maintained by further meetings and even volunteering for AA. AA states that around 50 percent of members get sober at once and remain that way; 25 percent sober up after some relapses; and the rest show marked improvement. Visit the official Alcoholics Anonymous website at http://www.aa.org and find a meeting in your area.

Alcoholics Anonymous or AA, teams up over 2 million individuals / members globally, stating its purpose to stay Alcohol free and willingly help other alcoholics attain freedom from the life dominated by Alcohol. AA was founded by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith in the year 1935. AA group members share their experiences, strengths and hopes together, committing to solve their problems and help other Alcoholics. AA only requires you to maintain a will to give up Alcohol and no membership fee is necessary in order to be part of the fraternity. AA does not collaborate with, and is not endorsed by other organizations.

An alcoholic drink contains 0.6 ounces of pure ethyl alcohol (ethanol). Ethanol is instantly absorbed from the stomach and small intestine into the bloodstream. The central nervous system (CNS) depresses, preventing social inhibitions and relieving anxiety and pain. Extended intoxication and overdose can impair brain function and motor function (CNS). Alcoholism can increase risk of heart illnesses, certain cancers, strokes, liver disease and the developing fetus during pregnancy. Alcohol abuse can also indirectly harm interpersonal relationships and ability to work. A survey in 1996 showed that drunken driving is the cause of nearly half of fatal motor accidents. In a 2008 survey, SAMHSA indicated that 23 percent of the US population drank heavily.

AA members are inspired to abstain from alcohol one day at a time and proactively recover from the individual’s past perspective of the alcoholic’s life. Members are encouraged to find fellow group partners (sponsor), who will be of same gender and have experience of the ‘Twelve Steps’. Active participation by members reduces binge drinking and increases abstinence all the more. The AA Twelve Step program aims to create a spiritual awakening in the individual and sobriety to be maintained by further meetings and even volunteering for AA. AA states that around 50 percent of members get sober at once and remain that way; 25 percent sober up after some relapses; and the rest show marked improvement. Visit the official Alcoholics Anonymous website at http://www.aa.org and find a meeting in your area.

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Filed Under: Alcoholism, Drug Addiction Tagged With: , ,