7 Signs Of Addiction Everyone Should Know
I’m no expert on drug addiction and I’ll never claim to be. I have, however, dealt with a few in my day. I saw the signs but I ignored them. Thanks to my experiences, and Google, here are 7 signs of addiction everyone should know.
They Can’t Stop Themselves From Using
It’s not their fault. They try to stop but they just can’t. Drugs are addictive.
They Make Excuses
Whether it’s drugs or alcohol, they are full of excuses. I knew a guy who had a drug addiction for a couple of years. Of course I knew him when he was sober. He was a great guy, until his life started falling apart. Then he started drinking.
At first he didn’t drink or anything. Then he would have a drink once in a blue moon. It wasn’t until he lost his job and was unemployed for about seven months. At first he started drinking out of boredom. He was in the house, which he hated, all day long. Without anything to do he started drinking to pass the time. Not writing or reading like he used to, drinking. It didn’t help that all his friends around him drank constantly as well.
I admit, at first I didn’t see it was a big deal. In fact, I drank with him, basically a if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em type of situation. I didn’t recognize the signs of addiction. Then I started listening. I started noticing he said he needed a drink way too often. He started saying, he’ll slow down when he gets a job. He got a job and as I’m writing this, he’s drunk. He drinks when he’s anxious, he drinks to pass the time, he drinks to help him go to sleep. All excuses to cover up why he really drinks.
They Spend A Lot Of Time Figuring Out How to Get Their Next Fix
They will complain about not having any money but I was literally told one time that he was trying to scramble up some money to buy a bottle. It’s pretty unbelievable.
They Try To Limit Themselves But They Don’t Really Stick To It
Remember when I said that guy said he’ll slow down when he gets a job. He never slowed down. I don’t even really know if he tried.
They Borrow Or Steal Money To Buy It
Eventually they will run out of their own money and start asking you for some. I’ve supplied this man alcohol, but it was before I realized he had a serious problem. He would say it’s just a nip it won’t kill me. It’s not that serious. Essentially guilting me until I gave him the money for it.
They Start To Lose Weight
One of the signs of addiction is significant weight loss. It makes sense, their main goal is that drug. Food is not a factor whatsoever.
They Start Missing Work Or School
There’s an episode of The Golden Girls that depicts addiction very well. However, it wasn’t drugs or alcohol, it was gambling. It started off harmless. Dorothy went with Rose to the race track. She gave Rose the names of the horses she should bet on and Rose won. It made Dorothy feel great to know that she still had it. Then she started to lie and go down to the track by herself. There was an important meeting that she had at work for a promotion and she kept putting it off. It all came to a head when she almost stole from Rose. She never got her promotion but in the end she got the help she needed. I wish I could say the same for that guy.
