Psychoactive substances come into your life like a friend who will make you feel better initially, only to stab you in the back by taking your time, family, money, and the general experience of life. While different substances, like alcohol and other drugs, affect different people differently – there are some common signs and symptoms of substance abuse you must not ignore. It is easy to overlook these or sweep them under the rug, but when you look deeper, recognizing these early warning signs is the first step to reclaiming control over substance use.
1. Strong cravings and urges to use the substance.
You experience a persistent need to use the substance of your choice. You keep thinking about how you will acquire it, and when you will be able to use this substance again.
2. Consuming the substance of your choice in larger quantities and for longer than you intended to.
Substance abuse is characterized by an inability to control drinking alcohol or consuming drugs. When you begin to drink or use substances more heavily and frequently than you ever intended to, it is a very telling sign of substance abuse.
3. Spending a lot of time acquiring and using the substance of your choice.
Your intense cravings and urges lead you to spend a lot of time acquiring and using substances. They take away your time from the other pivotal aspects of your life.
4. Prioritizing substance use over everything else in life, including education, job, family, and other activities.
Substance abuse changes your brain chemistry and functioning in a way that it takes priority in your life over everything else – you are not able to manage both substance use and career/life, so everything begins to suffer.
5. Giving up other activities in favor of substance use.
As substance use becomes the priority, you give up other activities in favor of substance use. These activities can be obligations, like your job, and even other social activities you used to enjoy. As a consequence, you become withdrawn and isolated.
6. You use the substance, despite the adverse effects on your physical and mental health.
Substance use can impact your physical and mental health the hardest. For instance, they can impact your brain, liver, heart, and immune system. They also lead to/worsen other mental health complications, such as anxiety, depression, and more.
7. You use the substance, despite its adverse impacts on your relationships.
As substance use paves the way to secrecy, hiding, and lying – your relationships bear the brunt of these behaviors. There is broken trust, something that is needed for relationships to survive and thrive.
8. You use the substance over and over again, even when it puts you in dangerous circumstances.
You use these substances even when they put you in or under dangerous circumstances, like driving under the influence or operating heavy machinery. In fact, they can even lead to highly risky activities you might not engage in otherwise, like unprotected sex.
9. You need more and more of the substance to achieve the desired effect.
Over time, you develop tolerance. This means that you will need the substance in larger quantities to feel the same high or relaxation as you would before. Therefore, you will need to use the substance in larger quantities to experience the desired effect.
10. You develop withdrawal symptoms in case you cut down or stop using the substance abruptly.
Withdrawal symptoms are discomforting and even life-threatening symptoms you experience when you try to reduce or stop using the substance altogether. This is why quitting on your own or going cold turkey is not only extremely difficult but also dangerous.
11. You have tried to cut down/stop using the substance, but have not been able to.
As we told you, dependence and withdrawal symptoms make it very difficult to cut down or stop using the substance on your own.
What Do the Signs and Symptoms of Substance Abuse Tell You?
The signs and symptoms of substance abuse we have told you about are as described in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). It is used to diagnose the severity of substance abuse.
- Mild: Two or three symptoms indicate the presence of a mild substance use disorder.
- Moderate: Four or five symptoms indicate the presence of a moderate substance use disorder.
- Severe: Six or more symptoms indicate the presence of a severe substance use disorder.
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you can be referred to standard outpatient care, outpatient rehab (intensive outpatient programs and partial hospitalization programs), or inpatient rehab.
Typically, your treatment will involve medically supervised detox, psychotherapy, medication management, peer support, and aftercare involving sober living, ongoing therapy/counseling, medication monitoring, and peer support programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and other non-12-Step programs.
Are You Ready to Take the Next Step in Your Recovery?
Do you recognize any of the signs and symptoms we have mentioned here? Then do not delay seeking recovery any longer. While recovery programs are designed to meet you where you are, early diagnosis and intervention enhance recovery outcomes.
Please reach out to Sober Living West at (310) 218-5158 today! We provide leading sober living programs tailored to your recovery needs and goals, and we also connect you with psychotherapists, psychiatrists, and rehab centers to meet your more urgent needs.