People suffering from addiction most times do not know they are addicted.

When the signs are glaring, they remain in denial. If you suspect that you or your loved one might be going through addiction, there are some signs that you can use to confirm your suspicion.

These signs are quite different from what is portrayed by the media, it ranges from the minute to the obvious ones. The signs of substance or behavioral abuse can be physical and behavioral:

Physical Signs:

Physical Appearance: If you have abused alcohol and drugs for a long time, it will cause a total change in your appearance. It may be in the form of sudden weight loss or weight gain. It may also be a sudden lack of interest in personal grooming. 

Minor body changes: There may be changes in your eyes and skin due to the side effects of the drug you are using. It could be bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, an unusual puffiness in the skin, or flushed skin.

The constant presence of equipment for substance use: When there are always objects like razor blades, cutup straws, cigarette wrapping papers available around a person, there might be an addiction problem.

Behavioral Signs:

Non-compliance with rules: You may find it hard to adhere to limits you place on yourself concerning substance use no matter how hard you try.

Withdrawal: Reclusive behavior and paranoia are side effects of some drugs when abused. When you no longer have any interest in relating with your community and prefer to be in isolation. 

Irregular sleep patterns: Most substances affect the hormonal system of a person responsible for staying awake or falling asleep. When you consistently oversleep or stay awake during sleep periods, you should watch out for a substance abuse problem.

If you find any of these signs in you or your loved ones, seek the help of an intervention specialist or a drug abuse rehabilitation program to begin your journey to recovery.

Often times, it is very difficult to people to own up to their problems, particularly if it is one that could make them stigmatized or scorned at.

When it comes to the issue of abuse, people do not like talking about it and the reason for this is because a good number of them are on the verge of addiction.

For some people, they know that acknowledging their abuse problem might be an avenue for others to say hurtful things. So, they would rather keep to themselves than say anything.

People who do not accept their abuse problem often end up getting addicted. And at this stage it becomes difficult to bring them back to the sober lane.

One of the major advantages of accepting your abuse problem is that, it shows your readiness to accept help even though you are not excited about it.

The fact is, an abuse process is an enjoyable one that is done at the detriment of other productive and crucial events. Simply put, when an individual is undergoing an abusive act, they revel in the beauty of the moment.

This sends a signal to the reward system of the brain that there is an activity that keeps the brain happy and engaged. So, as time goes on, the individual would want to please himself and an addictive habit slowly begins to form.

If you know someone who has an abuse problem, it is best that you start by approaching them with love instead of prejudice. One effective way to make them reason with you, is to avoid condemning them. People who abuse substances and behaviors tend to shy away from people who say hurtful things to them.

So, when you approach lovingly, it becomes easy for you to suggest treatment help to them, and you can be sure that they will give it a thought over and over again. This would be you lending a helping hand to someone who did not see a reason to seek help in the first place.  

For parents, one of the toughest things there is, is looking out for your teenager. The teenage years is a delicate period of their lives because they will make some decisions that would serve as the bedrock for the rest of their lives.

This is why it is advised that parents are on the lookout for their teenagers helping them make the right decisions.

The rate of abuse and addiction among teenagers is on the surge and this is something that parents need to concern themselves with. Not all teenagers are well informed on the dangers attached to abuse so they will readily accept to abuse substances or behaviors as the case maybe.

They will only realize later in life that their lives have been endangered in the process.

Parents need to watch out for the kind of friends that their teenagers keep. They need to be sure that they are sober friends who have sober parents living in sober environments. Only with this, will they be certain that their children are in safe hands.

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It is imperative for parents to always educate their teenagers on the ills of abuse and addiction. There is a chance that teenagers might want to act rebellious at some point. Eventually, they will realize that it is for their own good.

A parent that is not observant and watchful might have his or herself to be blamed at the end of the day. Hence, it is vital to always keep in touch with your teenagers.

Always know what they are up to and get involved in the latest trend. A parent who is well informed would have no problem getting a teenager to open up to him or her.

To wrap it up, parents have a big responsibility to their teenagers. It is crucial that they assist their teenagers in making the right decisions that would serve as a great foundation for their future. When they become adults, they will be grateful for your input.

It is more common for young people to try out drugs and alcohol than adults, and there is a high possibility that once the habit is being developed, it could follow them into adulthood. Preventing teenagers from substance abuse, ensures that they successfully overcome a phase of their lives when they are very likely to come down with an addiction.

Now, the purpose of prevention of substance abuse in teenagers, is to make sure that, for instance, they do not have their first drink, till their brain is mature enough to make important decisions.

Below are some of the demerits of substance abuse in teenagers:

• Mental health issues which includes anxiety and depression
• Tense relationship between friends and family
• Physical health issues
• Academic challenges

Based on statistics, it has been seen that some teenagers are at a higher risk of coming down with substance abuse than others. Hence, there is an important need to know those who need prompt help than others.

Below are the usual risk factors for teenagers:

• Those in the phase of transition: Teenagers who are moving from elementary to high school, are often faced with new challenges and pressures. Hence, there is a likely chance that if care is not taken, they would be faced with substance abuse. These young teenagers would find it easy to take drugs and alcohol if they are exposed to it.

• Those suffering from mental health issues: Asides the fact that adults are usually those who are faced with mental health problems, teenagers too also face mental health issues at their tender age. In most cases, those who are facing depression, anxiety and the likes, are often those who are vulnerable to coming down with substance abuse problem.

• Those who do not have positive adult impacts: It is very likely that teenagers who grew up in homes or communities where there are no moral standards, are prone to being caught in the web of substance abuse. Also, those who grew up with people who abused alcohol or drugs, are likely to toe the same path.

It is essential that teenagers are well educated on the demerits of substance abuse, highlighting on the fact that it has a detrimental effect on their brain, and their lives in the long run. Teenagers who are already addicted to either drugs or alcohol, should be taken to substance abuse rehabilitation centers where they can receive immediate help.

Substance abuse is found in every culture and every demographic on earth. All types of people can be prone to substance abuse. There are many substances that provide people with feelings of pleasure and relief. These feelings are rewarding, and it can be hard to tell one’s self that they are better off moderating those feelings than they are of completely indulging in them. Of all the substances that are frequently abused, there are some that people are far more drawn to than others. These substances are as follows:

• Prescription medications. This commonly abused substance is on the rise despite legal efforts to contain it. People frequently become too dependent on the medications that are prescribed to them by a doctor and take them in excess, run out faster than they should, and find more through any devious means they can, including going to multiple pharmacies.
• Alcohol. This substance is commonly considered the world’s oldest substance to have been abused by people. Alcohol has been around for thousands of years, and even dating back to its earliest uses are examples of people using it to excess for its mood altering qualities. In modern times, this problem has only become more serious, with alcohol related deaths occurring in shocking numbers in many places around the world.
• Street drugs. Illegal recreational drugs are popular the world over for their mind altering effects. Some are modern and some are ancient. Street drugs are abused because they put the user into a euphoric state, which many users do not want to come out of. The demand for street drugs has caused millions of deaths due to overdose and the violence and corruption of sales being made on an unregulated black market.
• Food and  beverage. Every day foods and beverages are frequently overlooked as objects of substance abuse, but there is no doubt that they are. The abuse of food and drinks accounts for some of the most prevalent health problems in the United States and Canada.

A diagnosis called a co-occurring disorder is determined for those who struggle with substance abuse problems and a mental disorder. Substance abuse problems can wreak havoc on a person’s life. Similarly, mental disorders can create serious problems for people who suffer from them. For some people, both conditions are a reality. This may arise in the form of alcoholism and depression, drug addiction and anxiety or many other variations. Sometimes knowing which disorder is informing which decision is extremely difficult, and treatment will have to be intensive and long-lasting in order to be successful. This dual diagnosis requires special treatment in order get rid of because the two conditions affect and aggravate one another in a complicated manner.

Ongoing substance abuse damages the body’s chemistry even when the person in question is not under the influence, so their weight, sleep schedule and nutrient intake are completely erratic, making their mental disorder that much more out of control. Substance abuse is the overindulgence or the dependence on an addictive substance, such as alcohol, drugs or certain foods. People abuse substances for a number of biological, environmental, psychological and emotional reasons. Substance abuse can refer to a one time incident or a repeated behavior. When a co-occurring disorder, such as depression, anxiety, anger or ADHD is acting in conjunction with substance abuse, the person may have severe mood swings, manic episodes, anger management issues or attention problems that are enhanced by the substance abuse. This is not only while the person is under the influence.

Do not hesitate to gain support from local substance abuse and mental health professionals if you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse and mental issues. Co-occurring disorders are very damaging when left untreated, even fatal in some instances. Both can be damaging or fatal to life and health one their own, but together, the destruction is enhanced and sped up. If you or someone you know is known to abuse a substance and exhibits signs of a mental disorder, urgent treatment is necessary.