Is your or your loved one's life being negatively impacted by the recreational use of controlled or prescription substances? If you answered yes, then you or your loved one is officially battling substance abuse. Substance abuse is a when a person uses drugs and/or alcohol on a regular basis. Substance abuse can apply to illegal or legal drugs. It is the bridge between use and addiction, and is a serious problem all over the world. Substance abuse is so dangerous because it’s the step right before addiction. The short amount of time between abuse and dependency makes it critical that you or your loved one recognize the early warning signs of substance abuse and seek out a qualified substance abuse treatment center before the abuse becomes a potentially deadly addiction.

Signs of Substance Abuse

When a person is falling into substance abuse, it gets more obvious the longer it continues. The key is to recognize the signs of substance abuse before the substance abuser becomes chemically dependent on the drugs they’re abusing. Commons signs of substance abuse include, but are not limited to:

-Change of Circle of Friends

-Reclusive Attitude and Behavior

-Neglecting Family and Old Friends

-Declining Professional or Academic Performance

-Theft and Dishonesty

-Frequent Legal Troubles

-Dramatic Changes in Attitude and Demeanor

It’s also common for substance abusers to completely neglect their appearance and grooming habits and dismiss the idea of engaging in any sort of activity that doesn’t involve their chosen substance.

Substance Abuse Will Always Lead to Addiction

While substance abusers tread the fine line of chemical dependency, it’s only a matter of time before the brain triggers its natural response to prolonged abuse and a full blown addiction develops. Substance abusers are working against the natural biology of the brain and often become dependent without even realizing it until it’s too late. It’s unlikely that, in a moment of lucidity, the abuser will realize what they’re doing and stop altogether. One of the best methods of combating the collision course of substance abuse is through the organized intervention of loved ones. If it gets to the point where the abuser’s substance abuse negatively impacts their personal relationships, they should be made to see their destructive pattern of behavior.

Stop Substance Abuse Before It's Too Late

People who engage in substance abuse don't have a lot of time before they cross over into addiction. Usually the consequences of their actions have already started to hurt their friends, their loved ones, and themselves. It is literally a race against time to get yourself or your loved one help before the consequences become even greater, eventually leading to jail time, personal injury or even a fatality. The National Alcohol and Substance Abuse Information Center (NASAIC) maintains a continuously updated national database of substance abuse rehab centers in your local area, as well as the leading recommended substance abuse rehab centers in the United States and around the world.