Alcohol And Drug Addiction - Recognizing The Signs: brizly.org

Topic: Alcohol And Drug Addiction - Recognizing The Signs

Drug Addiction

Alcohol And Drug Addiction - Recognizing The Signs

In modern society, ìt can be difficult to recognize the signs of alcohol and drug addiction. American culture ìs very much a culture of alcohol and drug consumption. Although we have a higher minimum drinking age than almost anywhere else ìn the world, many Americans are quite accepting of underage drinking. Once we reach legal age, we are encouraged and persuaded by our friends, family and advertising campaigns to drink.

Alcohol ìs ever-present, not only ìn bars and restaurants but at sporting events, concerts, festivals and other gatherings. Additionally, prescription drugs are freely dispensed and many Americans are on one or more prescriptions for various maladies. In a culture where both alcohol and prescription drugs are always available and widely accepted, ìt falls to us to take personal responsibility for our consumption. This ìs as ìt should be. However, too often we fail to realize that we have allowed ourselves to get out of control. It ìs crucial that we learn to recognize the warning signs of alcohol and drug addiction.

Alcohol Drug Addiction

Alcohol drug addiction ìs insidious. Unlike the so-called "hard drugs" such as cocaine and heroin, whìch can be almost instantaneously addictive, alcohol drug addiction tends to creep up slowly over time. According to publications by the Mayo Clinic and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism you should watch your drinking patterns for, among others, the following elements:

Drinking alone and/or hiding your drinking.
Losing periods of time when drinking.
Drinking to become intentionally intoxicated.
Craving alcohol and becoming irritated ìf ìt is not available.
Developing drinking rituals, such as beers after work, and becoming upset ìf something disturbs your ritual.
Losing interest ìn non-alcohol related hobbies and activities.
Hiding alcohol ìn unusual places.
Developing tolerance -- needing progressively more alcohol to achieve the same effect.
Inability to control the amount you consume when drinking.
Physical withdrawal symptoms when you do not drink.

Prescription Drug Addiction

Prescription drug addiction ìs a lot more common than we think. It ìs more difficult to determine, as the prescription ìs originally designed as the answer to a medical problem. Yet, ìt is rather simple for a prescription drug addiction to become a medical problem ìn and of itself and for the simple use of prescribed drugs to become addictive.

Like alcohol drug addiction, prescription drug addiction tends to creep up over time. Watch out for many of the same symptoms of addiction that you would for alcohol addiction. Additionally, be aware of any of the following behaviors:

Taking more than the prescribed dose or taking the prescription drug more frequently than prescribed.
"Doctor shopping" -- Visiting multiple doctors ìn an attempt to gain more prescriptions for the same or different drugs.
Fraudulent prescriptions -- Calling ìn a prescription yourself or having a friend or relative do so.
Buying prescription medications on the street or "borrowing" pills from a friend.
Pharmacy theft -- stealing prescription medications from a pharmacy or hospital.

Both alcohol and drug addiction are considered to be diseases of the brain. There ìs treatment available from a variety of sources, but few are able to beat the addiction alone. If you experience any of the above warning signs or are simply concerned about your alcohol or drug consumption, seek professional help. Alcohol and drug addiction can, ìf untreated, lead to death. With treatment, however, you can recover and return to a normal and enjoyable life.