Signs of Drug Abuse
By Stephanie
Loebs
_____________________________________________________
 For a parent, child, employer or
friend, the knowledge that a loved one may be abusing drugs is
most assuredly difficult to accept. One can ponder the whys
and hows of a close friend or family member becoming dependent
on drugs and/or alcohol for a long time, and oftentimes people
blame themselves for enabling others into what may seem an
irreversible situation.
However, instead of placing blame or worrying about what to do,
a loved one should take immediate action when drug abuse is
suspected. Consulting a physician or healthcare professional with
experience in drug rehabilitation is a necessary step.
| Risk is not destiny. Just
because drug abuse tends to run in families doesn't mean that a
child of an addict will automatically become a drug abuser too.
Some people develop drug abuse even though no one in their family
has a drug problem. By the same token, not all children of drug
abusing families get into trouble with drugs. Knowing
you are at risk is important, though, because then you can take
steps to protect yourself from developing problems with
drugs. |
Of course, one must be certain if drug abuse is actually
happening. While some addicts may work to hide their behaviors,
there are signs to watch for if you suspect a child, parent,
co-worker or friend is abusing narcotics or alcohol. Some of the
more obvious signals include but are not limited to:
 Sudden mood changes, depression and
listlessness, paranoia and withdrawal from friends and
activities- Problems with concentration, short-term memory loss, twitching
and jittery behavior
- Change in appearance for the worse, disheveled clothes and
hair, the distinct odor of marijuana is also an obvious sign
- Redness or constant watering of the eyes, prolonged dilation of
the pupils, constant sniffling
- Possible sexual performance problems
- Loss of appetite, rapid and unexplained weight loss, increased
thirst and craving for sugary drinks
- Unexplained financial problems, things missing around the
house, having to always borrow money, unable to find
work
| A clearer understanding of the
biological underpinnings of addiction is opening the way to better
drugs. Scientists have identified a number of genes that confer a
predisposition to alcohol and drug addiction. They have also found
that the brain goes through profound changes when a person starts
drinking to excess or abusing
drugs. |
While such symptoms are indicative of other illnesses unrelated
to drug abuse, these remain fair warnings and should not be so
easily dismissed. Watch your loved one's behavior carefully, ask
questions and offer support. Most importantly, don't wait to take
action if you are certain something is wrong. The longer you wait
could increase the risk of health problems.
| Under certain circumstances, the
withdrawal symptoms that a dependent person can experience can be
so severe that immediate medical treatment is required so that the
person does not lose his or her life. The moral of the story,
then, is this: all drug and alcohol addicts who decide to
quit taking drugs or stop drinking need to get professional
treatment, especially for the withdrawal symptoms that invariable
will take place. |
Stephanie Loebs is the executive director of Williamsburg Place,
one of the top drug rehab
clinics in the nation. Williamsburg Place aids those who suffer
from drug and/or alcohol addiction, and specializes in caring for
health care professionals. For over twenty years Williamsburg Place
and its joint rehabilitation center, the William J. Farley Center,
have helped thousands of people from all walks of life take back
their lives and overcome substance abuse.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Loebs
| According to the addiction
research literature, rapid detox is a process of ridding the body
of certain substances while the person is anesthetized and
administered medications in a closely monitored and supervised
medical setting. The 64 thousand question, however, is
this: Does rapid detox "work" with alcoholism?
Addiction research shows that for the present time, rapid detox has
not been used for alcoholism and is specifically employed in
detoxification situations with addicts who are dependent on opiates
such as morphine, methadone, and heroin or addicted to prescription
drugs such as Oxycontin, Vicodin, Codeine, Darvocet, and
Percocet. |
_________________________________________
|
