If you or someone you love is addicted to drugs or alcohol, they could exhibit a few or all of the following signs and symptoms:

1. Cravings: People suffering from addiction usually experience intense urges or cravings for the drug as their addiction develops. Cravings can be thought of as the conscious or unconscious experience of wanting to use a substance. They are a central feature of addiction.
2. Tolerance: Over time and with prolonged use, those who use drugs can build up tolerance to them, meaning they need more of a drug to achieve the desired effects.
3. Withdrawal symptoms: Many drugs create withdrawal symptoms when those who use them attempt to stop abruptly or reduce their usage. The presence of a withdrawal syndrome and tolerance indicates that physiologic dependence on a substance is occurring.
4. Physical dependence: Physical dependence on drugs can develop as individuals grow accustomed to the persistent presence and influence of the substance. The changes in physiology that accompany this process leave people feeling poorly or functioning sub-optimally when the drug is no longer in the system.
5. Poor judgement: When an individual is addicted to drugs, he or she may do anything to obtain more, including risky behaviors such as stealing, lying, engaging in unsafe sexual activity, selling drugs or crimes that could land the person in jail.
6. Drug-seeking: People may spend excessive amounts of time and energy finding and getting their drug of choice.
7. Financial trouble: Individuals using drugs may spend large and unexplained amounts of money, drain their bank accounts, and go outside their budgets in order to get the drug. This behavior can be a major red flag for addiction and has massive consequences. A recent survey of 341 Americans showed that 44% had a loved one with a substance use disorder, and of those with a substance use disorder, 48% drained savings or retirement accounts, 42% sold assets for cash, 11% filed for bankruptcy.
8. Neglect responsibilities: When people choose using or getting the drug over meeting work or personal obligations, this is a classic sign of addiction.
9. Developing unhealthy friendships: When people start using new substances, they may spend time with others who have similar habits. They may hang out with a new group of people who may encourage unhealthy habits; doing so makes them more likely to use for a longer time, especially if others in the group have a negative life outlook.
10. Isolate: Alternatively, individuals may withdraw and isolate themselves, hiding their drug use from friends and family. Some reasons for this may include perceived stigma or increased depression, anxiety, or paranoia as a result of their drug addiction.

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