How do you recognize drug addiction in your family?
A child’s grades may suddenly begin to decline. Participation in extra-curricular activities may fall off.
A change in mood, from generally happy to depressed and anxious, can occur. Alienation from family often occurs. There can be weight change.
Physical signs of drug addiction, especially related to opiates, include: drowsiness, possibly a nodding of the head, pinpoint pupils, decreased breathing rate to less than 12 per minute, fresh or chronic injection marks on the arms, hands or feet.
Signs of opiate withdrawal, indicating a period of absence of the opiate are: anxiety, restlessness or agitation, dilated pupils, sweats, nasal congestion; the person may have nausea, abdominal cramps or diarrhea.
Definition of “addiction”
How do you define addiction?
Addiction is defined by the American Society of Addiction Medicine as:
A primary, chronic, neurobiologic disease with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations, characterized by behaviors, that include one or more of the following: impaired control over use, compulsive use/continued use despite harm due to use/preoccupation with use, craving.
