While it can difficult to know if your husband is a drug addict, there are usually signs. It’s important to understand what addiction is and how it progresses in a person’s life so you can help. Without knowing the signs of addiction, your spouse’s drug habit may get to a point where it’s difficult to get help. The first thing that you need to understand is that addiction is a disease, and your partner is sick.
What Makes a Drug Addict?
Addiction is a mental illness, and it’s helpful that the medical community now recognizes that fact. Many people originally thought that those with an addiction made bad choices and lacked willpower. This stigma still deters men from getting the help they need. Both you and your husband may think that he can quit any time he wants, but in reality, he can’t.
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There are many different ways that men can develop an addiction, but there comes a point where they cross a line. When an addiction develops, men acquire both a mental obsession and physical craving for the drug. They may begin using much more because of an increased tolerance. It’s also important to know which drugs lead to addiction, especially since not all of them are illegal drugs.
For men, the most common drug addictions include:
- Cocaine
- Meth
- Heroin
- Prescription pain medications (opiates and opioids)
- Anxiety medications (benzodiazepines)
- Prescription stimulants (amphetamines)
Signs of a Drug Addict
Addiction hijacks the brain in ways that make men begin to change into people they never were. Those who develop an addiction often become socially withdrawn or aggressive. Your husband may begin to lie and manipulate in order to hide his addiction as well. Other signs to look for depend upon a man’s substance of choice.
People can swallow, smoke, snort or inject drugs into their system, so there may be some physical signs. The most obvious signs are when men inject drugs because they often have unexplainable track marks. People who snort drugs may sniff a lot, have a regular runny nose or strange residue on his or her face. However, it’s much more difficult to spot the problem if your husband is abusing prescription medications.
Prescription Drug Addiction Signs
It’s easy to overlook prescription drug addiction signs. However, these drugs are currently the leading causes of fatal overdoses in the United States. Even though your husband may have a prescription, he may still need to enter a drug and alcohol addiction treatment program. The signs for identifying a prescription drug addict are often subtle, but they’re there.
Your husband may begin taking more than what the prescription bottle says and run out early. In this instance, he may return to his doctor and try to get stronger doses, more refills or larger quantities. Your husband may also begin showing signs of a physical dependence when he gets sick from withdrawal. He may also begin to become extremely agitated when he runs out of pills.
Getting Help Through Treatment Programs
If you believe that your husband is a drug addict, Serenity Lodge is an all-male facility that can help. Our residential inpatient program can help your husband begin the healing process. We have a wide range of therapeutic treatment programs and activities that will give your spouse the tools he needs.
To find out more about our program, call Serenity Lodge today at (855) 932-4045.
