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Substance abuse is also known as drug abuse. It is the excessive use of chemical substance to gain a specific effect. The substances can be “street” or “illicit”, or drugs obtained with prescription to get pleasure rather than for medical reasons. Different drugs have different effects on you. Cocaine or methamphetamine gives you the feeling of boundless energy. Drugs like heroin, benzodiazepines or oxycontin produce feelings of relaxation and calmness. The common thing in all drugs is over-stimulation of the pleasure centre of the brain.

Although the nature of physical and mental consequence of drug abuse can be different, however the main pattern of the abuse is common. When it comes to an addict, getting, and using the drug is a matter of life, and death for him/her. Normal functioning is blocked by drug abuse, which impairs judgment to a perilous level.

Physical signs of abuse and addiction:

Drugs affect not just the brain, but also your body. It contributes towards increase in blood pressure and heart rate, such as cocaine and methamphetamine, when you use them they will not only increase your blood pressure and metabolism, but also make you suffer from sleeplessness. In contrast, there are drugs like opiates and barbiturates that decrease your blood pressure, and affect your breathing and alertness similarly. Listed below are some physical symptoms that result from substance addiction.

There is a series of restlessness, and increased energy found in the addict along with his/her inability to sleep. Opiates, benzodiazepines and barbiturates slow down your speaking power and reaction time. In addition, one might experience weight loss, and weight gain through drug abuse. Cycles of sleep increase with the use of certain drugs. Addicts wear long-sleeved shirts to hide their scars at injection sites. Cough and bronchitis are caused by smoke drugs, which also cause excessive mucus, or blood. Progressive severe drug dental problems result from methamphetamine addiction.

Mental and emotional signs of abuse and addiction

The temporary pleasure of substance abuse is the predecessor of a state of impatience for the addict. The emotional swings and the mood fluctuations can be spotted in between the state of satiation and temptation. Emotional and mental signs of substance addicts are as follows:

Addicts are supposed to be talkative, and cheerful along with being high, and having a great energy level. Along with all these odds, they will get irritated and agitated very easily, and their temper remains very high. If you are looking for signs, some of them will be unresponsiveness along with apathy, and unusual calmness, not to mention depression, and hallucinations, paranoia along with temporary psychosis, delusions, and also a lower threshold for violence, etc.

Teenagers form a major part of the substance addicts. If, timely treatment is not given, then the danger of the addiction turning chronic persists. Parents find it difficult to judge the signs of addiction as teenagers have a reputation for oversleeping, and having a need for privacy, and space, not to mention their streak of argument and anger. In case of suspicion, the parent should look out for changes in the behaviour of the kid along with his/her health, and appearance.

Throughout the world, substance addiction is elevating. Rehabilitation centres are there to cure this social evil stigma for people who are suffering from drug addiction. The family, friends, and colleagues of a drug addict are affected by this stigma, and sometimes this also has an effect on the community. To help and support the addict is our social responsibility. This will help them emotionally to fight the strong temptation of drug usage.

You can get rid of drug additions by taking a professional’s help and get complete checkup at drug addiction treatment.