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Addiction Basics

Understanding the basics of substance abuse and addiction can help you to better understand when it’s time to get help. Though it may be overwhelming to attempt to keep up with everything pertaining to addiction, the latest trends in treatment and the latest drugs, you can keep up with the basics. This is especially essential for parents, teachers, and those who care for our youth. Sometimes, it’s having an understanding of the basic principles of addiction that can lead to recognizing an individual’s struggles early on and helping them to get the treatment that they need.

What is Addiction?

Addiction is characterized by an inability to control the use of a substance despite the known consequences and possibly even a desire to quit. Addiction is harmful to the user and can lead to a number of life-long consequences including physical impairment, disease and even death.

Recognizing Addiction

What can you do to spot addiction early on? Some of the signs of addiction include:

lack of interest in hobbies or friends
lack of personal appearance
lack of performance at work or school
anxiety, depression, agitation or mental illness

These are not all of the signs of addiction as there are different symptoms with each type of drug that is used but it is a list of some of the common early symptoms. These signs are often recognizable by others before some of the more prevalent symptoms are noticeable.

Treatment for Addiction

If you or someone you know seems to be showing signs of addiction, consider seeking help. Treatment centers provide a range of treatment options for those who suffer from all kinds of substance abuse problems including addiction to prescription drugs, alcohol, marijuana and other drugs. Depending on the severity of the addiction, inpatient or outpatient treatment may be chosen to help.

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