How can people know when they are addicted to drugs?

Answer 1

This can be difficult to determine and often may require other people to point this out. Here are some of the symptoms and possible indications of drug addiction:

• The person believes they need drugs to cope with life.
• They make take more of their drug of choice with time.
• They lie about their drug use. Eg., "I only had one today."
• They black out or do things they don't remember doing.
• They may lie, steal, or sell illegal products to afford their habit.
• They keep promising to quit.
• They may have health problems.
• Their work or studies are suffering.
• The person was seen buying drugs.

If you have any of the above symptoms, you likely should get some help. In addition to the above, here are things that may not mean anything in themselves, but are suspicious:

• The person has cut ties with most of their existing friends.
• They have new friends who don't seem like the best friends to have.
• They may have mood swings or sudden changes in behavior.
• They may be more secretive than before.
• Their habits of dress may have changed.
• Their values may have suddenly changed.