If you suspect you might have an addiction, here’s how to spot it and get some help.

Drug use and alcohol addiction are on the rise across the globe. According to Statista, around 5.5% of the world’s population are addicted to some sort of drug[i]. With so many of us struggling against addiction, we thought we would revisit what the signs of an addiction are. After all, many of us are addicts and don’t even recognise the fact.

Read this article if you suspect you may be struggling against addiction. Use it to ascertain if you are an addict and, should the need arise, to get yourself some help.

The Five Signs You Might Be Addicted to Drugs Or Alcohol

Here are five warning signs to look out for when it comes to drug and alcohol addiction.

1 – You use drugs or alcohol frequently

Many people believe that to be an addict, you must use drugs or alcohol every day. In fact, this isn’t true. Granted, you are more likely to develop an addiction if you use drugs or alcohol every day. That doesn’t mean that those who go out on a Friday or Saturday night and binge drink every weekend aren’t also addicts. The keyword here is frequently. If you struggle to go a Friday or a Saturday night without a drink, you’re probably addicted to alcohol.

2 – You routinely spend rent or food money on drugs/alcohol

Addicts can’t help themselves if they have run out of drugs or alcohol, they will buy more. Even if that means they can’t afford to eat or pay the rent from that month, they will rather get into financial difficulty than miss that drink or hit. If you’ve ever spent rent or food money on alcohol or drugs, the chances are you have an addiction problem.

3 – You push away friends and family

Addicts isolate themselves from the people around them who know them best. The reason that addicts isolate themselves is because the people that know them best will recognise the symptoms of addiction within them. Pushing them away doesn’t give them the chance to do this.

4 – You’ve thought seriously about quitting

Here’s a little secret. People who aren’t addicted to things don’t have to think about quitting it. If you’ve ever thought that you need to stop drinking, or you need to stop using, then you have an addiction problem. You should still think about quitting though. Addiction won’t last forever, either because you recover, or it kills you.

5 – You hide your behaviour

People who aren’t ashamed of their actions don’t hide those actions from those who love them. If you’re hiding your drinking or if you are hiding your drug use, then you are an addict. It may be that you’re not quite an addict, yet you may be abusing alcohol or drugs. If you keep this behaviour up, you will become addicted eventually. It is never too early to go to rehab.

How do I get help for an addiction?

If you want help for your addiction you need to cheque yourself into a rehab facility. You could also see your doctor if you live in the UK and have access to NHS services. However. Private rehab will deal with the problem more efficiently. You can get a free consultation for drug and alcohol addiction at Help4Addiction. Contact your rehab service of choice before your addiction becomes unmanageable. The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to stop.

[i] https://www.statista.com/topics/7547/drug-use-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/