Symptoms of Addiction
Drug and alcohol addiction, also known as substance use disorder (SUD), is a complex condition that can present with a variety of symptoms. The most immediately visible sign is using substances.
However, the use of substances itself doesn’t always indicate an addiction. Rather, the most prominent sign of an addiction is the loss of control over substance use.
Many substances can cause a person to suffer from harmful effects, such as how alcohol can impair judgment and coordination or how cocaine can cause serious nasal problems.
But people who have an SUD will keep taking drugs or alcohol despite these effects because their minds and bodies have become so acclimated that they couldn’t stop if they wanted to.
People who struggle with addiction may also find themselves losing interest in anything other than the substances that they consume. It doesn’t matter if it’s a hobby, their loved ones, or their careers, all of it can become secondary to using drugs or drinking alcohol.