Understanding Drug Addiction and Abuse: Risk Factors, Signs & Symptoms

Understanding drug addiction, its waning signs and how it impacts people is valuable in helping others find the resources necessary for recovery.

“Addiction is a chronic disease, and without treatment and intervention, the individual can die from their addiction.”

—Kevin Wandler, MD

There has long been a negative stigma associated with drug abuse and addiction. While medical advances have changed the way we talk about the disease of addiction, millions of Americans try drugs likealcohol,marijuana,cocaine,prescription opioids, orheroinfor the first time each year.

Unfortunately,89.7% of people who struggle with substances do not receive treatmentfor their substance use problem, complicating their ability to stop.

Accepting help for a drug addiction often begins with understanding what it is, how it impacts people, whatsigns and symptoms to look forandwho to call for help. By understanding the impact substances have on the body, you can make better decisions for yourself and help loved ones who may be struggling with drug addiction.

Drug Abuse vs. Drug Addiction

Often used interchangeably, the terms “drug abuse” and “drug addiction” have unique implications and meanings.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) once referred to substance abuse and substance dependence as diagnostic terms. In the updated fifth edition (DSM-5), however, these terms are replaced by the singular “substance use disorder.” This is further categorized into mild, moderate and severe to refer to the physical and mental impairments caused by substance use.

What Is Drug Abuse?

Drug abuse typically refers to misusing substances — not necessarily being addicted to them. However, drug abuse often leads to physical dependence or addiction, which is associated with overwhelming drug cravings,withdrawal symptomsand more.

Drug abuse can apply to a wide variety of substances, fromprescription medicationtoillicit street drugs. The term is often used to discuss the improper use of substances, especially substances that can be used for medical purposes. Drug abuse is not limited to those with a history of addiction, as many people develop a substance use disorder after taking prescription medications like prescription painkillers. Regular drug abuse can lead to serious patterns of behavior that result in addiction.

What Is Drug Addiction?

A drugaddictionis a medical condition. It is a chronic, relapsing brain disease involving compulsive drug-seeking and use. This behavior occurs despite harmful consequences, like job loss or legal problems.

Addiction can result from avariety of factorsand catalysts, including genetic predisposition, circumstances, environment, trauma and mental health disorders. Addiction is not an indication of a person’s morality. In fact, many addictions spring from legitimate prescription drug use or casual use of legal substances like alcohol.

What Is Physical Drug Dependence?

Drug dependence is different from drug addiction.When you become dependent on a drug, your body becomes used to the substance’s presence and begins to expect it. For this reason, suddenly stopping the drug can cause withdrawal symptoms. It often takesweeks of heavy useto become physically dependent on a drug.

Drug dependence can occur with many different drugs, including prescription medications that are taken as prescribed. Just because a person is physically dependent on a drug does not equate to misuse, abuse or addiction. Physical dependence acts as a barrier to sobriety, but it can be overcome.

Physical Drug Addiction

Being physically dependent on a drug cancontribute to addiction. Dealing with withdrawal symptoms can make it harder to quit taking the substance, even when you want to quit. A physical drug addiction can occur in any substance on which you can become physically dependent.

Psychological Drug Addiction

Addictions also have a psychological component. This part of addiction is reflected in the addicted person’s behavior. When a person becomespsychologically addictedto a drug, the substance becomes a key component of their everyday thoughts, feelings and activities. These thoughts may give them a strong urge to use the drug.

Polysubstance Abuse & Addiction

Many people struggle with more than one substance at a time. About15%of people who abuse alcohol andnearly 57%of people addicted to opioids struggle with additional substances at the same time. Therisk of polysubstance abuse increasesif a person is male, young, African-American or has certain mental health conditions.

In these cases, a person may meet DSM-5 criteria for multiple kinds of substance abuse at the same time.

According toa recent alcohol use survey by The Recovery Village, polysubstance abuse appears to be common among those trying to detox. For example, among the 1,559 respondents who underwent alcohol detox, 21.3% were detoxing from multiple substances. Unfortunately, polysubstance use can complicate the detox process and necessitate more medical care.

Criteria for Diagnosing a Drug Addiction

Drug addiction is often used as a synonym for a substance use disorder. Because it is characterized as a disorder, drug addiction is considered a medical problem.

A substance use disorder combines symptoms that fall into four separate categories:

1. Impaired control
2. Social impairment
3. Risky use
4. Pharmacological criteria

Addiction professionals use these criteria to diagnose and treat substance use disorders based on a person’s behavior over a 12-month period. Substance use disorders are also broken down into specific drug types, such as opioid use disorders, alcohol use disorders and more.

Risk Factors for Drug Addiction

Although anyone can become addicted to a substance, some people have a higher likelihood of doing so. Some people may be able to take a substance recreationally while avoiding addiction, while other people are more at risk of struggling to quit. Theserisk factors for addiction include:

• Community risk factors like living in an area with high crime and a high rate of drug use
• Minority status risk factors including discrimination and problems with assimilation
• Family environment risk factors like an unstable family environment or parental abuse
• Constitutional risk factors such as having a birth defect or a physical disability
• Behavioral risk factors like problems with stress, violence and resisting authority

Although risk factors do not guarantee that a person will develop an addiction, they may make an addiction more likely. It is important to be even more careful with substance use if an addiction risk factor applies to you or a loved one.

Signs and Symptoms of Drug Addiction

Addiction is an all-consuming disease that uses much of an individual’s time, energy and resources. There are many physical, mental and emotionalsigns of addiction. Identifying these can be the first step toward identifying an addiction.

Mental Effects of Drug Addiction

Drugs affect the way a person thinks, feels and behaves. Some of thesemental effects of addiction include:

• Solitude
• Fatigue
• Sadness
• Mood changes
• Losing interest in things that once gave pleasure
• Changes in energy levels

However, substance use disorders are often accompanied byco-occurring mental health disorderslike anxiety or depression. Some people may use drugs as a form of self-medication for these issues, while other people may develop a mental health disorder after taking substances.

When a person is struggling with both a mental illness and a substance use disorder, it can be difficult to identify and treat the issues of each. Many treatment facilities focus solely on the symptoms of substance use without treating the mental health issues that may contribute to addiction. Centers that specialize indual diagnosis treatment, like The Recovery Village, can help identify the roots of a substance use disorder and equip patients with the tools they need for lifelong recovery.

Physical Effects of Drug Addiction

Each drug can cause its owndistinct physical effects. For example, methamphetamine is linked to dental problems, while anabolic steroid abuse is linked to high cholesterol levels.

Some drugs can be linked to physical effects fromhow they are administered. Drugs that are injected may leave track marks at the places in the body where they were injected. Drugs that are snorted or sniffed may lead to nasal irritation and nosebleeds.

Sometimes, a person’sbehavioral changesfrom addiction can cause physical effects. For example, a person struggling with addiction may have hygiene issues if they avoid bathing or changing clothes due to being high.

Social Effects of Drug Addiction

Drug addiction impacts not only the person struggling with the substance but also the people around them. Friends, coworkers and loved ones often must come to grips with changes they see in a person struggling from substance use. Common social effects from addictioninclude:

• Not spending as much time with friends and loved ones
• Spending more time with new friends
• Having interpersonal problems with family and friends
• Spending more time alone than usual

Addiction and Drug Withdrawal

Different drugs affect the body and brain in unique ways. Similarly, addiction can lead to a variety of withdrawal symptoms, depending on the drug. A physical dependence on a drug causes serious withdrawal symptoms if a person suddenly stops using the substance or severely reduces the dose.

The withdrawal process can be uncomfortable. For example, some of theclassic signs of opioid withdrawalinclude tremors, cold sweats, involuntary movements (jerking, twitching or shaking), nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps and bone pain. Because withdrawal from some substances can be dangerous or interfere with recovery, propermedical detoxcan be an important step in overcoming addiction.

Drug Addiction Treatment

Like any other life-threatening disease, drug addiction requires intensive treatment by credentialed specialists. While some people may be able to find recovery alone, true healing is a lifelong process that typically requires continued support.

Drug addictiontreatment optionsrange from medical detox and inpatient care to 12-step programming, pharmacotherapy, outpatient services and teletherapy. Throughout a continuum of care, patients are offered resources, skills, and support to ensure that they’re making progress toward recovery goals.

• Drug Detox:Detox, short for detoxification, is the first phase in many substance abuse treatment programs. During detox, patients are monitored by…Learn More
• Addiction Medications:Medication-assisted treatment can help reduce withdrawal symptoms, make cravings more manageable, and reduce urges after leaving a treatment center.Learn More
• Inpatient Treatment:Inpatient or residential treatment provides intensive therapy, 24-hour monitoring and a full spectrum of rehab services for patients who need…Learn More
• Outpatient Treatment:Outpatient therapy is ideal for those who have completed a residential treatment program. Consistent meetings with a therapist on a…Learn More
• Teletherapy:With teletherapy, people with substance use disorders can receive therapy services over the internet or phone. Learn the options, benefits…Learn More
• Aftercare & Sober Living:Sober living homes offer a safe place for those in recovery to live and begin to rebuild their life alongside…Learn More

Preventing Drug Addiction

It can be hard to predict if a person will become addicted to a substance they are taking, so the best way to prevent drug addiction is toavoid misusing substancesin the first place. Ideally, illicit substances and street drugs should be avoided entirely. Meanwhile, prescribed drugs should be taken exactly as your doctor instructs, and not taken more often or at higher doses than you are told.

The risk of addiction increases when a person isexposed to drugs at an early age. For this reason, preventing drug addiction starts early in life. Helping adolescents avoid substance use when they are young reduces their overall risk of addiction.

Drug Abuse Facts and Statistics

Overall, about20 million Americans, or approximately 7.4% of Americans aged 12 or older,meet the criteria for a substance use disorder. Globally, the figure is lower: up to 3% ofadults around the worldsuffer from a substance use disorder. At first glance, these numbers may seem small. However, these statistics do not reflect the number of people who have tried illicit drugs or who have abused illicit substances or prescription medications. In any given month,more than 11%of Americans try illicit drugs. Anyone who uses drugs recreationally or experimentally is at risk of developing a dependence and addiction.

More on Specific Substances and Illicit Drugs

“Drug addiction” is a general term that covers a very broad range of substances, from prescription medications toillegal street drugs. Technically,alcoholis a drug, as well. Each of these substances has specific side effects, risks and withdrawal symptoms. Learn more about some of the most commonly abused substances.

• Alcohol
• Benzos(Ativan, Klonopin, Librium, Valium and Xanax)
• Cocaine
• Fentanyl
• Heroin
• Marijuana
• Opioids(Morphine, Codeine, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone)
• Xanax
• See all drugs

• Visit the following websites to learn about The Recovery Village’s network of drug and alcohol rehabilitation treatment facilities. Call today for admissions. Each center is ready to help people learn how to cope with their addiction and uncover the root causes for their substance use disorder.
• Orlando Recovery Center: A premier rehabilitation facility in Orlando, Florida that helps individuals recover from addiction and substance use disorders. The center also offers the opportunity to treat co-occurring disorders.
• The Recovery Village Columbus: Located in Ohio,this facility provides inpatient, outpatient and aftercare treatment for people looking to begin detox. The center provides individualized plans to help patients through recovery while addressing their unique co-occurring disorders or any setbacks that may happen during recovery.
• The Recovery Village Palmer Lake:In Colorado, this facility offers inpatient, outpatient and intensive outpatient treatment for individuals looking to kick-start their journey to recovery.
• The Recovery Village Ridgefield: Located right in southern Washington,this facility provides patients with outpatient and aftercare programs. Just 20 minutes outside of Portland, this facility assists individuals who are ready to begin treatment.
• The Recovery Village: In Umatilla, Florida,this is a rehabilitation facility that provides resources for individuals seeking drug and alcohol treatment. There are inpatient, outpatient, intensive outpatient and partial hospitalization treatment programs available for those suffering from Ambien addiction.
• IAFF Center of Excellence:Specializes in assisting firefighters who struggle with behavioral health problems and addiction. Members can enter the recovery process sooner so they can return back to work as quickly as possible. Inpatient, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs are all available at this facility, where patients can address their Ambien addiction in a safe, supportive environment.
• Denver Mental Health & Counseling: Denver Mental Health and Counseling by The Recovery Village is a physician-led outpatient center specializing in evidence-based addiction and mental health treatments, offering services such as TMS, IOP, and personalized care for both ongoing and new patients, dedicated to fostering long-term recovery and overall well-being.
• The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health: The Recovery Village Palm Beach at Baptist Health is a premier physician-led treatment center in South Florida, offering a comprehensive spectrum of services from medical detox to outpatient programs for alcohol, drug, and co-occurring mental health conditions, with a commitment to rejuvenating lives, families, and communities, and facilitating same-day admissions.
• The Recovery Village Atlanta: Located in Roswell just outside downtown Atlanta, is a 62-bed physician-led treatment facility offering a comprehensive range of services, from medical detox to outpatient care, specializing in alcohol, drug, and co-occurring mental health conditions, dedicated to transforming lives, families, and communities throughout Georgia.
• The Recovery Village Kansas City: The Recovery Village Kansas City, an 80-bed facility in Raytown just 10 miles from downtown, offers a comprehensive range of evidence-based treatments for addiction and mental health conditions, overseen by physician leaders, and is dedicated to revitalizing lives, families, and communities throughout the Midwest.
• The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper Health: The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper, situated just 20 minutes from Philadelphia, is a leading rehab facility in South Jersey providing comprehensive, evidence-based addiction and mental health treatments, ranging from medical detox to teletherapy, with a dedicated team committed to guiding adults on their path to lifelong recovery.