Signs of Drug Addiction

Recognizing the signs of drug addiction is the first step toward getting help for oneself or a loved one. The simplest way to identify addiction is by observing someone’s behaviours around their substance abuse.

However, discerning these behaviours is easier for the person who has the addiction than it is for outside observers. Luckily, drug-seeking and taking behaviours are not the only indicators of addiction.

Below, we will outline the criteria professionals look to when diagnosing someone with an addiction. We will also explain the signs family members, friends, and coworkers can look out for if they suspect someone is addicted to drugs.

Substance Use Disorder Criteria

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) has 11 criteria for diagnosing substance use disorders (SUDs). People who exhibit at least two of the following signs may have an SUD:

1. Using more of a substance or using it for longer than intended
2. Wanting to or trying to cut back on substance use without success
3. Spending significant amounts of time using substances or overcoming the effects of substance use
4. Experiencing cravings
5. Being unable to fulfil home, work, or school obligations due to substance use
6. Continuing to use substances despite negative social or relationship consequences
7. Not participating in previously enjoyed activities to use substances
8. Using substances in physically unsafe environments
9. Continuing to use substances despite adverse physical or mental health consequences
10. Needing more and more of a substance to experience the same effects
11. Experiencing negative symptoms upon cessation of or after cutting back on substance use

Sometimes, these symptoms can be difficult to see. The person may be a high-functioning addict or hide their substance use. In those cases, loved ones can look out for other possible signs of addiction.

Other Signs to Watch Out For

One of the most obvious signs of an SUD is if someone suddenly becomes secretive for no apparent reason. They may disappear for hours at a time to use or obtain drugs. Or they may start stealing money to fund their habit.

Physical indications to look for include an unkempt or dishevelled appearance, sleeping too much or too little, or eating more or less than usual. Bloodshot eyes, body odour, shaky hands, and bloody noses may also be signs of addiction.

Drug abuse can also lead to psychological changes. For example, the person may showcase extreme mood swings or personality changes. They may suddenly develop mental health symptoms, such as anxiety or paranoia.

Of course, these could hint at another problem. Loved ones can consult with an addiction specialist for more information. Or learn how to approach a loved one about addiction and treatment in this guide.

What Is Drug Addiction Counselling?

Drug addiction counselling is one of the most common approaches to treating people with SUDs, along with medication. Addiction counselling may take place in a group or individual setting.

Professional counsellors conduct addiction counselling sessions. These professionals have advanced addiction training and licenses. They may hold credentials as licensed professional counsellors (LPCs) or licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), though other credentials are also available.

The addiction counsellor’s goal is first to identify the reasons behind and triggers of the person’s drug use. For example, many people abuse substances to self-treat mental health symptoms or escape from unresolved past traumas.

Once clients understand their triggers for abusing substances, they can work toward overcoming them. For instance, clients can get treatment for their mental health symptoms and pick up new coping skills to use in place of substances.

Ideally, counselling treatment plans should be tailored to the individual. Every person’s experience with substance abuse is distinct. A customized treatment approach can account for these differences and optimize success.

8 Benefits of Drug Addiction Counselling

Drug addiction counselling is an integral component of someone’s treatment plan. Medication and therapy are the most common approaches to treating addiction and helping people stay in recovery for the long term.

Counselling works because it helps people gain self-awareness and learn skills for navigating life’s stressful moments. This treatment can also benefit people with SUDs in the following eight ways.

1. Gain a New Perspective

There are many misconceptions about addiction. In addiction counselling, individuals will learn the truth about their condition, including that SUDs are mental health disorders, not a failing of willpower.

Addiction counselling also teaches people how to take responsibility for their past actions. Clients will learn to forgive and be honest with themselves and others to promote future healing.

2. Get Motivated

Finding the motivation to get help is one thing, but staying motivated throughout the recovery journey is another. Overcoming addiction is a painful process that can last years if not a lifetime.

In counselling, people with SUDs can get the motivation they need to stay on track. Group counselling, in particular, gives individuals access to the stories and support of others on a similar recovery journey.

3. Develop Coping Skills

Coping skills are crucial for properly managing stress, even without addiction in the picture. It is even more critical for individuals with SUDs to find effective ways to deal with triggers if they want to avoid relapse.

Some healthy coping mechanisms individuals may learn in addiction counselling include problem-focused, emotion-focused, meaning-focused, and support-seeking skills, such as planning and practising acceptance.

4. Obtain Support

Drug addiction counselling provides support in two ways. First, having an individual counsellor guarantees people in recovery have someone on their side who cares about their health.

Second, individuals can get support from fellow recovering addicts. Research shows that peer support is key to long-term recovery from drug addiction, which is why 12-step programs are so common.

5. Prevent Relapse

40% to 60% of people with an addiction relapse after receiving treatment. Importantly, relapse doesn’t mean that treatment has failed, as this rate is on par with relapse rates for other chronic diseases like asthma and high blood pressure.

Still, relapse can stall progress, bring up feelings of shame, and even increase treatment costs. Counselling can teach individuals the skills needed to lower the risk of relapse and become an invaluable resource when temptation arises.

6. Learn New Behaviour Strategies for Recovery

Another benefit of identifying situations and emotions that trigger someone’s drug use is learning behavioural strategies to deal with them. For example, say someone’s trigger is stress. In that case, they can learn how to avoid stressful situations.

In counselling, individuals will also come to understand how places, people, and paraphernalia can trigger cravings. They can devise plans for avoiding these triggers or dealing with them healthily when they are unavoidable.

7. Identify Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders

25% of people with a serious mental health disorder also have an SUD. An even higher percentage of individuals with SUDs experience mental health symptoms like anxiety or depression.

Addiction counsellors are aware of this fact. They are trained to identify signs of mental illness during addiction counselling sessions so that clients can get help for both conditions simultaneously.

8. Understand How to Create and Repair Relationships

Drug addictions can be as hard on loved ones as it is for the person suffering. People with addictions may inadvertently harm their interpersonal relationships in the pursuit of drugs.

Counselling can help individuals repair these relationships. People with addictions can also identify friendships and romantic relationships that aren’t serving them and learn how to replace them with new, healthy connections.

Counselling Drug Addicts

Before therapy, people with SUDs must undergo an assessment. An addiction professional will deliver the assessment, which evaluates someone’s substance use background. They will also give a diagnosis and establish the addiction’s severity level.

The assessment findings will then inform the treatment plan, which includes counselling. Counselling may occur in a family, group, or individual setting and consists of the following techniques and approaches.

Behavioural Counselling Techniques

There are many evidence-backed approaches to counselling people with drug addictions. Two of the most common ones are:

1. Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT)
2. Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT)

The theory behind CBT says that human behaviour is a direct result of internal thoughts and feelings. CBT aims to modify thought patterns and teach emotional regulation to change unhelpful actions and behavioural patterns.

DBT was designed for the treatment of borderline personality disorder. It is also helpful for people with SUDs because of its focus on emotions, which are often a trigger for drug misuse. DBT skills model acceptance and change.

Family Therapy

Group addiction counselling sessions may not only consist of peers. Group therapy sessions can also enable the whole family to heal. Family therapy helps individuals dealing with addiction as well as their partners, parents, and kids.

The goal of family counselling may vary. Sometimes, family therapy can be the first step in motivating the person with the SUD to seek help. Other times, these sessions are designed for healing and trust-building activities.

Holistic Modalities

Almost all treatment programs offer individual, peer, and family therapy sessions. What sets the average program apart from an excellent one is how it views the person with the SUD.

Addiction does not just affect a person’s health and relationships. The effects of substance abuse can negatively impact nearly all aspects of someone’s life. So, a holistic approach to healing that includes the following may be more effective.

Nutritional Therapy

Food is fuel for the brain and body. Whether due to the effects of someone’s drug of choice or poor eating habits, people with addictions often end up deficient in nutrients that are crucial for optimal health.

Nutritional therapy can help people with addictions understand what healthy eating looks like and how to implement it. Eating better can benefit recovery by reducing mental health symptoms and curbing weight gain.

Yoga

Yoga is a holistic exercise; it benefits the mind, body, and spirit. It is also a research-backed method for helping people in addiction recovery, as it may help reduce cravings and improve mood.

Another benefit of yoga is that it encourages mindfulness. Mindfulness teaches people to be more aware of their surroundings and the present moment. It can promote acceptance and non-judgment, which can be positive for recovery.

Recreational Therapy

Recreational therapy encourages people with SUDs to find physical activities they enjoy. For these activities to be therapeutic, an addiction specialist will assign recreations that will benefit an individual’s unique needs.

In addition to improving mood, decreasing stress, and promoting resilience, recreational therapy activities can help individuals cope. When someone experiences a trigger, they can turn to the therapeutic activity instead of drug use.

Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) uses horses, dogs, and other non-human animals to treat mental illnesses, including SUDs. The goal is to encourage physical, social, emotional, and cognitive functioning through animal interactions.

AAT can take place in an individual or group setting. The theory is that AAT, in combination with traditional counselling, can help with not only SUD symptoms but also co-occurring mental health disorders.

Addicted to Drugs in Ontario? Simcoe Can Help

The benefits of counselling for drug addiction are numerous. Individuals can learn how to support their recovery journey with new coping mechanisms, repair broken relationships, and create new, supportive connections.

Are you or a loved one struggling with a drug addiction in Ontario? Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health offers residential treatment programs, as well as outpatient drug addiction counselling services.

Contact Simcoe to learn more about our offerings and start the journey to recovery.