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Addiction is a chronic brain disease that often lacks ongoing chronic care support, leaving the afflicted person at high risk for crisis and affecting the entire family.
A scary scene
Signs and symptoms of alcoholism and drug dependence:
Alcoholism and drug dependence involve all the symptoms of alcohol and drug abuse, but also involve another element: physical dependence.
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Tolerance:
Tolerance means that, over time, you need more alcohol or drugs to feel the same effects. Do they drink or use more drugs than they used? Do they drink or use more drugs than other people without showing obvious signs of intoxication?
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Withdrawal:
As the effect of the alcohol or drugs wear off the person may experience withdrawal symptoms: anxiety or jumpiness; shakiness or trembling; sweating, nausea and vomiting, insomnia, depression, irritability, fatigue or loss of appetite and headaches. Do they drink or use to steady the nerves, stop the shakes in the morning? Drinking or drugging to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms is a sign of alcoholism and addiction.
In severe cases, withdrawal from alcohol and drugs can be life-threatening and involve hallucinations, confusion, seizures, fever, and agitation. These symptoms can be dangerous and should be managed by a physician specifically trained and experienced in dealing with alcoholism and addiction.
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Loss of Control:
Drinking or drugging more than they wanted to, for longer than they intended, or despite telling themselves that they wouldn’t do it this time.
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Desire to Stop - But Can’t:
They have a persistent desire to cut down or stop their alcohol or drug use, but all efforts to stop and stay stopped, have been unsuccessful.
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Neglecting Other Activities:
They are spending less time on activities that used to be important to them (hanging out with family and friends, exercising- going to the gym, pursuing your hobbies or other interests) because of the use of alcohol or drugs.
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Alcohol and Drugs Take Up Greater Time, Energy and Focus:
They spend a lot of time drinking or using drugs, thinking about it, or recovering from its effects. They have few, if any, interests, social or community involvements that don’t revolve around the use of alcohol or drugs.
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Continued Use Despite Negative Consequences:
They drink and use even though they know it’s causing problems. As an example, you realize that your alcohol or drug use is interfering with you ability to do your job, is damaging your marriage, making your problems worse, or causing health problems, but they continue to drink or use.
