Prolonged use of a drug, whether it be an illicit substance or a prescription medication, can lead to dependence and addiction. It makes you feel that you need the drug in order to function. Drug addiction is a disease that requires treatment.
It can be difficult to recognize when you have a drug addiction. According to WebMD, there are many signs that indicate a dependence on drugs, but here are a few of the most common.
1. Anhedonia
Anhedonia is a loss of interest in things that you once enjoyed doing. If you become addicted to drugs, it can become an all-consuming obsession that squeezes out any other interests.
2. Tolerance
Over time, your body may become accustomed to the substance you are using. As a result, you must take larger and larger doses to achieve the same effect. Tolerance is the word that describes this effect on your body and the pattern of increased drug use that results.
3. Withdrawal
If you stop taking the drug after using it for a long time, your body can go into withdrawal. When this happens, you may experience symptoms including the following:
- Seizures
- Headaches
- Confusion
- Nausea/vomiting
- Depression
- Sweating and shaking
Resuming the use of the drug causes these symptoms to go away.
4. Behavioral changes
A drug addiction can cause you to do things that you would not have done before, even things that are against your personal code of morals or ethics. For example, you may go through other people’s medicine cabinets looking for drugs or borrow money from others without permission to purchase them.
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