Christina's life is beginning to unravel. Her grades have slipped, she's moody, she doesn't talk to her friends, and she has stopped showing up for dance practice. Christina's friends know she has been experimenting with drugs and now they're worried she has become addicted. Defining an addiction is tricky, and knowing how to handle one is even harder.The difference between substance abuse and addiction is very slight.
Substance abuse means using an illegal substance or using a legal substance in an unsafe way. Addiction begins as abuse, or using a substance like marijuana or cocaine. You can abuse a drug (or alcohol) without having an addiction. For example, just because Randy smoked weed a few times doesn't mean that he has an addiction, however, it does mean that he's abusing a drug — and that could lead to an addiction.
People can get addicted to all sorts of substances. When we think of addiction, we usually think of alcohol or illegal drugs. However, people become addicted to medications, cigarettes, even glue!
And some substances are more addictive than others: Drugs like crack or heroin are so addictive that they might only be used once or twice before the user loses control.
Addiction means a person has no control over whether he or she uses a drug or drinks. Someone who's addicted to cocaine has grown so used to the drug that they have to have it. Addiction can be physical, psychological, or both.
Physical Addiction
Being physically addicted means a person's body actually becomes dependent on a particular substance (even smoking is physically addictive). It also means building tolerance to that substance, so that a person needs a larger dose than ever before to get the same effects.
Someone who is physically addicted and stops using a substance like drugs, alcohol, or cigarettes may experience withdrawal symptoms.
Common symptoms of withdrawal are diarrhea, shaking, and generally feeling awful.
Psychological Addiction
Psychological addiction happens when the cravings for a drug are psychological or emotional. People who are psychologically addicted feel overcome by the desire to have a drug. They may lie or steal to get it. A person crosses the line between abuse and addiction when they are no longer using the drug to have fun or get high, instead they have come to depend on it. Their whole life centers around the need for the drug.
An addicted person — whether it's a physical or psychological addiction or both — no longer feels like there is a choice in taking a substance.
Signs of Addiction
The most obvious sign of an addiction is the need to have a particular drug or substance. However, many other signs may suggest a possible addiction, such as changes in mood or weight loss or gain.
(These also are signs of other conditions, too, though, such as depression or eating disorders.) Signs that you or someone you know may have a drug or alcohol addiction include:
Physical signs:
- changes in eating habits, including weight loss or gain
- changes in sleeping habits
- feeling anxious, shaky or sick when stopping or being in a situation where there is no availability
- needing to take more of the substance to get the same effect
Psychological signs:
- anxiety, anger, restlessness or depression
- changes in friendships, such as hanging out only with friends who use drugs
- failed attempts to stop taking drugs or drinking
- loss of interest in activities that used to be important
- mood swings
- problems with schoolwork, such as slipping grades or absences
- spending a lot of time online or on the cell or texting figuring out how to get drugs
- stealing or selling belongings (either their own or other's) to be able to afford drugs
- use of drugs or alcohol as a way to forget problems or to relax
- withdrawal or keeping secrets from family and friends
Getting Help
When you think you know someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, recognizing that they have a problem is the first step in getting help. A lot of people think they can kick the problem on their own. That really does not work for most people, especially adolescents and young adults. Find someone you trust to talk to. Overcoming addiction is not easy. Quitting drugs or drinking is probably going to be one of the hardest things this person has ever done. It's not a sign of weakness when they and you need professional help from a therapist, trained drug counselor or addiction treatment center. Most people who engage in getting assistance for a drug or alcohol problem need professional assistance or a treatment program to do so.
Tips for Parents Who Have a Teen in Recovery
Once you teen starts a treatment program, these tips may make the road to recovery less bumpy:
- Accept family /friend invitations only to events that you know won't involve drugs or alcohol. Going to the movies is probably safe. Plan activities that don't involve a possible alcohol or drug situation. Go to the movies, go bowling, or take an art class with your teen.
- Ask your friends or family to be available when you need them. You may need to call someone in the middle of the night just to talk about how you are feeling and concerns you may have during your teens recovery. When you're going through a tough time, you don;t need to handle things on your own — accept the help your family and friends offer. You are not alone in this situation.
- Have a plan about what you'll do if your teen finds themselves in a place with drugs or alcohol. The temptation will be there sometimes, and they don't know how they are going to handle it,. With your assistance and support, they will be OK. Establish a plan with your teen that includes parents or siblings so that if they call home using a code, you will know that this is a signal that they need a ride out of there. Once you pick them up - be supportive, and do not ask questions. Remember, they called for assistance.
- Remind yourself that having an addiction doesn't make your teen bad or weak. If they fall back into old patterns (backslide) a bit, get them to talk with their previous counselor, therapist or mentor as soon as possible. There's nothing to be ashamed about, however, it's important to get them help soon so that all of the hard work you both put into their recovery is not lost.
- Make sure your teen tells their about their decision to stop drinking and/or using drugs. Their true friends will honor and respect their decision. This might mean that they need to find a new group of friends who will be 100% supportive. Unless all the previous friends decide to kick their drug habit at once, or stop drinking, your teen probably won't be able to hang out with the friends they did drugs with before.
Let your teen know that you are available to talk or offer your support.
If you notice them backsliding, talk about it openly and ask what you can do to help. If your teen is going back to drugs or drinking and won't accept your help, don't be afraid to seek intervention and treatment.
You are the parent and they are the child. They need you to intervene on their behalf. They are counting on you to save them.
Staying Clean
Recovering from a drug or alcohol addiction doesn't end with a 6-week treatment program. It's a lifelong process. Many teens find that joining a support group can help them stay clean. There are support groups specifically for teens and younger people. They will meet people who have gone through the same experiences they have, and they will be able to participate in real-life discussions about drugs that they won't hear in their school's health class. Many people find that helping others is also the best way to help themselves. Their understanding of how difficult the recovery process can be will help them to support others — both teens and adults — who are battling an addiction.
If your teen does have a relapse, recognizing the problem as soon as possible is critical. Get help for them right away so that they don't undo all the hard work they have put into their initial recovery. And, if your teen does have a relapse, don't ever be afraid to ask for help!
