Addiction Symptoms, Treatment, and More

Physical signs of substance misuse often include changes in appearance and health status. Individuals may experience noticeable weight changes, bloodshot eyes, poor coordination, or unusual sleep patterns. They might also show signs specific to their substance of use, such as slurred speech, dilated pupils, or frequent illness and hangovers. These may include declining performance at work or school, financial problems, secretive behavior, or changes in social circles 3. You may want to reach out to a friend or loved one for support as you start your treatment journey. Their encouragement could be the motivation you need to talk to a healthcare provider.

Taking some drugs can be particularly risky, especially if you take high doses or combine them with other drugs or alcohol. Despite the name, these are not bath products such as Epsom salts. Substituted cathinones can be eaten, snorted, inhaled or injected and are highly addictive. These drugs can cause severe intoxication, which results in dangerous health effects or even death. People use cannabis by smoking, eating or inhaling a vaporized form of the drug. Cannabis often precedes or is used along with other substances, such as alcohol or illegal drugs, and is often the first drug tried.

• The fact that this critical part of a teen’s brain is still a work in progress puts them at increased risk for trying drugs or continuing to take them.
• No matter where you are, know that this condition is treatable and help is available when you’re ready.
• The most common hallucinogens are lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and phencyclidine (PCP).
• While naloxone has been on the market for years, a nasal spray (Narcan, Kloxxado) and an injectable form are now available, though they can be very expensive.

Science Updates

The platform provides reliable resources, accessible services, and nurturing communities. Its purpose is to educate, support, and empower people in their pursuit of well-being. Integrated treatment approaches are essential for addressing co-occurring disorders effectively. This means treating both conditions simultaneously rather than addressing them separately. Research shows that integrated treatment leads to better outcomes than treating each condition in isolation 6. Additionally, cognitive function often suffers during active addiction.

Introducing drugs during this period of development may cause brain changes that have profound and long-lasting consequences. Consider how a social drinker can become intoxicated, get behind the wheel of a car, and quickly turn a pleasurable activity into a tragedy that affects many lives. Occasional drug use, such as misusing an opioid to get high, can have similarly disastrous effects, including impaired driving and overdose. Use these free education and outreach materials in your community and on social media to spread the word about mental health and related topics. Recognizing the signs of addiction can be challenging, as the condition often develops gradually, and individuals may hide their symptoms.

How are these co-occurring disorders diagnosed and treated?

Substance use can trigger or worsen symptoms of mental health conditions, particularly anxiety and depression. Similarly, mental health challenges may lead to substance use as a form of self-medication, which continues the cycle. It may help to get an independent perspective from someone you trust and who knows you well. You can start by discussing your substance use with your primary care provider. Or ask for a referral to a specialist in drug addiction, such as a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, or a psychiatrist or psychologist.

Changes in the brain

The risk of addiction and how fast you become addicted varies by drug. Some drugs, such as opioid painkillers, have a higher risk and cause addiction more quickly than others. But with continued use, a person’s ability to exert self-control can become drug addiction substance use disorder symptoms and causes seriously impaired.

If left untreated, they can last a lifetime and may lead to death. The latest information and resources on mental disorders shared on X, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Learn about NIMH priority areas for research and funding that have the potential to improve mental health care over the short, medium, and long term. Use these free digital, outreach materials in your community and on social media to spread the word about mental health.

In general, the more risk factors a person has, the greater the chance that taking drugs will lead to drug use and addiction. Protective factors, on the other hand, reduce a person’s risk. Risk and protective factors may be either environmental or biological. Updates about mental health topics, including NIMH news, upcoming events, mental disorders, funding opportunities, and research.

Further Reading

NIMH offers expert-reviewed information on mental disorders and a range of topics. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). MentalHealth.com is a health technology company guiding people towards self-understanding and connection.

Drug addiction, also called substance use disorder, is a disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medicine. Substances such as alcohol, marijuana and nicotine also are considered drugs. When you’re addicted, you may continue using the drug despite the harm it causes.

SUD medications

If your drug use is out of control or causing problems, get help. The sooner you seek help, the greater your chances for a long-term recovery. Talk with your health care provider or see a mental health provider, such as a doctor who specializes in addiction medicine or addiction psychiatry, or a licensed alcohol and drug counselor.

More In Conditions A-Z

• Group therapy supports people with SUD in maintaining abstinence and restraint.
• Their encouragement could be the motivation you need to talk to a healthcare provider.
• Follow-up care can include periodic appointments with your counselor, continuing in a self-help program or attending a regular group session.
• Many find success through support groups (like Narcotics Anonymous) and ongoing therapy.

Two groups of synthetic drugs — synthetic cannabinoids and substituted or synthetic cathinones — are illegal in most states. The effects of these drugs can be dangerous and unpredictable, as there is no quality control and some ingredients may not be known. Information about resources such as data, tissue, model organisms and imaging resources to support the NIMH research community. NIMH supports research at universities, medical centers, and other institutions via grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements.

Download, read, and order free NIMH brochures and fact sheets about mental disorders and related topics. However, effective treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Rather, it requires a comprehensive, individualized approach that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of dependence. As such, treatment often involves multiple levels of care where people progress from higher to lower levels of care on their path to recovery. The goal of detoxification, also called “detox” or withdrawal therapy, is to enable you to stop taking the addicting drug as quickly and safely as possible.

It can significantly impact your emotional well-being, relationships, education and career. Help from your health care provider, family, friends, support groups or an organized treatment program can help you overcome your drug addiction and stay drug-free. If you have concerns about your mental health, talk to a primary care provider. They can refer you to a qualified mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker, who can help you figure out the next steps. Find tips for talking with a health care provider about your mental health. The Clinical Affairs Team at MentalHealth.com is a dedicated group of medical professionals with diverse and extensive clinical experience.

Although there’s no cure for drug addiction, treatment options can help you overcome an addiction and stay drug-free. Your treatment depends on the drug used and any related medical or mental health disorders you may have. This includes 28.9 million people who had an alcohol use disorder and 27.2 million people who had a drug use disorder 2. When they first use a drug, people may perceive what seem to be positive effects.