What is an addiction?
Recognizing an addiction problem in someone you know can be harder than it seems. The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) defines addiction as a chronic disease that affects the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory functions. Someone with an addiction will crave a substance or other behavioral habits. They’ll often ignore other areas of life to fulfill or support their desires.
General signs of addiction are:
- lack of control, or inability to stay away from a substance or behavior
- decreased socialization, like abandoning commitments or ignoring relationships
- ignoring risk factors, like sharing needles despite potential consequences
- physical effects, like withdrawal symptoms or needing higher dosage for effect
These signs are commonly linked. The degree of intensity for each sign may depend on how long the addiction has been going on.
A healthy person can usually identify a negative behavior and get rid of it. This is not the case with someone with an addiction. Rather than admit the problem exists, they’ll find ways to justify and continue the behavior.
Types of addiction
Addiction is commonly associated with substance abuse, but behavioral addictions like gambling are just as serious. According to ASAM, addiction is when a person is unable to consistently abstain from a behavior or substance. This is typically at the cost of their mental and physical health.
Substance addiction is dependence on any one or more of the following:
- nicotine, or tobacco
- alcohol
- inhalants, often household items like oven cleaners, spray paints, or other aerosol products
- drugs, illicit or non-illicit
- medication
Studies suggest Trusted Source that behavioral addictions are as serious as substance addictions. Both types result in dependency and have the same or similar negative consequences. Behavioral addiction can include:
- gambling
- working
- sex
- shopping
- video games
- using the Internet or media
No matter the type of addiction, it’s important to recognize warning signs and seek help if necessary.
Identifying the initial signs
In the early stages, a person might not show telltale signs of a full-blown addiction. Some early stage clues include:
- experimentation
- family history of addiction
- being particularly drawn to an activity or substance
- seeking out situations where the substance or activity is present
- episodes of binging or loss of control with little to no feelings of remorse after
When it comes to common social behaviors like drinking or smoking, it might be difficult to determine if there’s an addiction problem. What looks like addiction could be an experimental phase or a form of stress management. But a real addiction, if left untreated, can develop into a debilitating habit or increased risk of illness.
Look for changes in personality
After a person moves past experimenting or the early phase of addiction, they’ll likely exhibit major personality or behavior changes. These changes may be infrequent at first. Telltale signs include:
- a lack of interest in hobbies or activities that used to be important
- neglecting relationships or reacting negatively to those closest to them
- missing important obligations like work
- risk taking tendencies, especially to get drugs or continue certain behaviors
- ignoring the negative consequences of their actions
- distinct change in sleeping patterns that result in chronic fatigue
- increased secrecy, like lying about the amount of substance used or time spent
You may notice an increase in alienation over time. People with an addiction tend to surround themselves with others who encourage their habits. When confronted, they may make excuses and try to justify their behavior to you.
Look for changes in health
Another way to recognize addiction is to pay attention to your friend or family member’s mental and physical health. Whether the addiction is to a drug or a behavior, their health will almost always decline.
Signs that point towards changes in their health can include:
- bloodshot or glazed eyes
- constant illness
- unexplained injuries
- abrupt change in weight
- bad skin, hair, teeth, and nails (especially when substance abuse involves illicit drugs like methamphetamines or cocaine)
- increased tolerance to drugs
- physical withdrawal symptoms like sweating, trembling, or vomiting
- memory loss or problems with recall
- change in speech like slurred words or rapid rambling
The following mental and emotional changes could also be signs of an addiction problem:
- sudden changes in mood
- aggressive behavior
- irritability
- depression
- apathy
- suicidal thoughts
It’s important to eliminate any potential medical reasons for someone’s health decline. Keep in mind that someone with an addiction will almost always understate the seriousness of their condition. If there’s no other explanation, then there’s an increased chance of an underlying addiction problem.