Does my loved one have an addiction?

You have intimate knowledge of your life history and your loved one’s history. Unfortunately, we can’t figure this out for you. But since you are the expert of your life story, we hope the following commonly asked questions will help you find answers for yourself and your loved one.

Does addiction only happen with hard drugs?

Addiction can occur to chemicals and behaviors. This includes prescription medications, cannabis, alcohol, gambling, and pornography. Although all of these look and feel different, they share the same underlying problem. They also improve with the same fundamentals of treatment.

Brain scans over the last few decades show us that the addicted brain looks similar regardless of if they are addicted to behaviors like gambling or chemicals like pills.

So the quick and simple answer is NO, addiction does not only occur with “hard” drugs.

What causes addiction?

Addictions can present at any time in life. Addiction can show during times when we are vulnerable such as in our youth, or during times of grief or trauma. Addictions help us cope temporarily on a psychological level because they can provide an escape from our negative feelings (shame, guilt, grief). Sometimes people will develop an addiction while using a substance or behavior to enhance their life (e.g. boredom, finances) or performance (e.g. at work, school, sports).

How do you know when someone is addicted?

Someone is usually addicted when the need for their addictive behavior overrides their values such as family, honesty, and future goals. All addictions lead to the same three issues:

• loss of control

• continued use despite consequences

• intense cravings

Click here to learn how to find treatment for addiction.

Signs of Addiction

Below is a list of signs and symptoms consistent with a clinical diagnosis of addiction. Someone with addiction can ask themselves these questions to help them see if they fit these criteria.

Craving/Compulsion

• Thinking about the addictive behavior frequently.

• Unable to concentrate on a task when you get the urge to act out on the addictive behavior.

• Unable to get the craving for the addictive behavior out of your head, until you act out on the urge.

Loss of Control

• You sincerely promised yourself or others you would quit, but somehow end up engaging in your addictive behavior

• History of blackouts, loss of consciousness, loss of time, or overdose

• Repeated unsuccessful attempts to quit

Life Problems

• You have not been able to fulfill important obligations at work, home, or school, due to your addiction.

• You no longer engage in hobbies that you previously enjoyed due to your addiction.

• The addictive behavior has caused conflict with loved ones (i.e. parents, spouse, children, etc).

• Interactions with law enforcement that may result in fines, arrests, incarcerations, and/or convictions.

Continued use despite consequences

• Although the consequences outweigh the benefits of continuing the addictive behavior, you find yourself continuing anyways

• Your relationships, legal, financial, or medical consequences are significant enough to quit, yet you continue to engage in your addictive behavior