Warning Signs
Addiction, or substance use disorder, is a chronic relapsing brain disease that is seen in every level of society. Without treatment, chronic drug and alcohol use leads to severe health problems or death. The first step in treating addiction is identification. Below is a list of the most common signs of addiction. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, contact your primary healthcare provider or chat live with our intake specialist here.
Addiction Warning Signs:
- The desire to use and/or act out interferes with routine activities such as school, work and home life
- Engagement in highrisk behavior and/or use of dangerous substances despite the negative consequences
- Requirement of larger doses to achieve the same effect
- Tried and failed to cease addictive behavior and/or use of a substance.
- Withdrawal occurs when deprived of a substance
Types of Addiction
Substance Addiction:
- Do you feel like you’re unable to stop using drugs or drinking alcohol, despite the negative consequences? If so, you may be experiencing substance addiction. You may also be addicted to a substance if you feel a compulsion to use frequently or if you experience withdrawal symptoms when deprived of a substance.
Behavioral Addiction:
- Another type of addiction is behavioral addiction. Characterized by a compulsion to perform a behavior despite negative consequences, it is similar to substance addiction, although the substance is replaced by a high-risk behavior. Examples of this include self-mutilation, compulsive sexual behavior, eating disorders, and compulsive gambling.
Co-occurring Disorders & Addiction
Co-occurring Disorders & Addiction
- It is very common for people with addiction to be affected by other mental health disorders. This is known as a co-occurring disorder (or dual diagnosis), in which two or more disorders are prevalent at the same time. The rate of substance addiction is higher among those with mental health disorders because some substances alleviate symptoms brought on by 54 these disorders. Substance addiction often co-occurs with borderline personality disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, anxiety/mood disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, pathological gambling, sexual/eating disorders, conduct disorder, and Attention Deficit Disorder. Both addiction and mental health disorders are caused by underlying genetic, social, and psychological components. As a result, it is very important that you’re honest about any family history of addiction or mental health disorders when you enter recovery. Our staff is better equipped to help you if we know that you may be experiencing symptoms of a mental health disorder in conjunction with your addiction treatment.