Am I an Addict?

So how does good, clean, experimenting become an addiction? Many people don’t even realize they’ve crossed the line between trying and abusing drugs and alcohol. The chances are if you have to ask yourself “am I an addict,” you already know there is a bit of an issue.

There comes a point in many peoples lives that they consider experimenting with drugs and alcohol. It’s almost considered normal to try out pot or drink a few too many beers here or there.  It is important to understand how this harmless experimenting could lead to an addiction.

First it is vital to understand that substance abuse disorder is a mental illness, and not a moral failing or lack of willpower. Substance use disorder, like many other mental illnesses, cannot be detected by medical tests such as blood work and CAT scans. Does that mean the only way to know you are an alcoholic or addict is by experimenting? Not exactly.

There are many signs that you could have the “addiction gene” such as, other family members that are addicted to drugs or alcohol, being diagnosed or undiagnosed with another mental illness such as depression or anxiety, lack of self-esteem and a history of trauma. Even without any of these it is important to keep in mind you could still become addicted to drugs and alcohol. The most effective way to remain not addicted to drugs or alcohol, is to not do drugs or drink alcohol, which may be a little unrealistic.

You may not know right away that you are becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol. It was fun. You felt free and happy for the first time in a long time. But you don’t really think about the drugs or the alcohol again, you know it was expensive to go out with friends and don’t have much money laying around to do it all the time, plus you have class and your recreational flag football team. Then, about a month later your friends want to do drugs and drink again, you say sure, why not? The next weekend comes, and your friends want to do drugs and drink again, you say sure, why not? Now getting drunk and high is part of your weekend routine. You convince yourself that its fine, it’s only a social thing. You are all just having fun, because its only on the weekends, maybe once during the week, that’s it! You are still able to go on in life and do the things you have to, like your relationship, work, homework and that recreational football team.

You start using drugs and alcohol every day, at first with friends then alone. Every dollar you make at work goes straight towards your next high. Your relationship is over, heck most of your friendships are over. Your lifestyle has completely changed, you don’t care about class or that team, or even your personal hygiene or nutrition. All you can think about, even in your dreams, is getting high and drunk. You have no money, you got fired from your job and can’t find a new one. You are worried about how you will get money to continue using drugs and alcohol. You might try to steal from family or pawn a few things that you “didn’t like anyway.” It is no longer fun to drink or get high, you only do it because you must, or you won’t make it through the day without getting sick.

This is how curiosity killed the cat, don’t let it kill you too. If you have to ask yourself, “am I an addict” you already see that your experimenting has pushed limits. Don’t wait until its too late, get help now by calling us, anytime of the day or night, someone who understands your struggle will be on the other line ready and willing to help.