When you suspect that someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcoholism and before making the decision to admit him or her to an addiction treatment center, you would like to make sure that he or she is indeed addicted. For that, you must be attentive to the signs of drug addiction and alcoholism.

Common signs of addiction

There are some common signs you can look out for before calling Pennsylvania Drug and Alcohol Rehab for help. The first sign to look for is a change in the person’s behavior. A person who abuses or is addicted to drugs will be less sociable, the circle of friends will change drastically, get angry easily, have frequent mood swings, start to steal and lie, lower their academic or professional performance, etc. It is also generally observed that addicts are prone to mood swings and there is a great tendency to make excuses to go out at odd hours.

You can also ascertain whether or not a person is addicted by looking for a visible change in the type of things the person uses or keeps in their room. Addicts often make up ideas about their drug use, and they are often easy to spot. You should watch out for things like razor blades, blackened spoons, peculiar pipes, syringes, rolled dollar bills, aluminum foil, needles, rubber bands, cotton balls, cigars, etc. You should also look for hiding places, such as rolled up shirt sleeves, coin pockets, pen holes, crevices, behind doors and window frames, etc. Once you are sure that your loved one is addicted, you can call addiction treatment centers and get their help.

Here are some specific addiction warning signs based on drug types:

Heroin

Warning signs of heroin abuse or addiction include drowsiness, dry mouth, runny nose, red bloodshot eyes or constricted pupils, clumsiness, frequent colds, scars and bruises on the skin, etc.

Ecstasy

Warning signs of ecstasy addiction or abuse include clenching, depression, insomnia, tremors, and fluctuating body temperatures.

Cocaine

Warning signs of cocaine abuse or addiction include excessive sweating, bloodshot eyes, excessive weight loss, frequent mood swings, dilated pupils, runny nose, decreased sexual activity, alienation from family, lack of interest in family and social matters, etc.

oxycontin

The person taking Oxycontin is breathing slowly and heavily, has tiny pupils, is usually confused, and appears to be drunk.

methamphetamine

Signs include paranoia, insomnia, cavities, dilated pupils, acne, and excessive talking.

inhalants

People who abuse or are addicted to inhalants have pale bluish skin, often suffer from nosebleeds, rashes around the nose and mouth, weight loss, loss of appetite, etc.

Alcohol

Characteristics of alcoholics include an inability to carry their bodies, an inability to speak properly, irritability, vomiting, and unacceptably inappropriate behavior.

If you see these kinds of signs in any of your loved ones, then you should seek the help of rehab professionals and get addiction recovery treatment at any of the addiction treatment centers. Rehab is the only way to recover from addiction and alcoholism.