Signs of Illegal Drug Addictions

The Drug Enforcement Administration in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration are responsible for determining which substances have legitimate medical uses and for monitoring the production and distribution of such substances.  Illegal drugs either have no medically accepted use in the United States or do have a medical use but are not being taken under the direction of a physician (Learn more about Prescription Drug Addiction).  Because most illegal drugs – like heroin, cocaine, and crystal meth – are extremely addictive and are associated with very serious potential consequences, they are sometimes considered to be a more “advanced” drug. In other words, the origins of most substance-based addictions are in “gateway substances” like alcohol and marijuana; few addicts begin by using heroin. 

Despite vast differences in the mechanisms behind each substance, there are some similarities in the use of certain illegal drugs.

• Route of Administration – Most people who have become addicted to one of these substances have also realized that snorting, smoking, and injecting the drug are the fastest way to get the high that they seek.   Each of these methods is associated with certain paraphernalia including mirrors, razor blades, lighters, pipes, bongs, syringes, tourniquets, and others.  Some of these may leave physical signs on the addicts’ body including track marks, abscesses, and damage to the nasal cavity. Most of these methods can lead to contracting HIV, hepatitis, or other diseases.
• Denial – A hallmark of most addictions, someone addicted to illegal drugs is likely to insist that they do not have a problem.
• Tolerance and Dependence – These concepts are part of the medical diagnostic criteria for substance addictions.  If an addict has developed tolerance, he or she will need higher and higher doses to get the same effect.  Dependence – which can be physical, psychological, or both – is determined by the onset of withdrawal symptoms (like tremors or anxiety) when the person – voluntarily or involuntarily – stops using.
• Dual Diagnosis – This phrase refers to instances when patients are diagnosed with co-occurring substance use and other mental health disorders.  A high rate of addicts also have other mental health problems such as bipolar disorder, depression, and suicidal ideation.
• Financial Problems – Many addicts are unable to retain employment because they become obsessed with seeking the next high.  Ironically, addiction is an extremely expensive problem, and many addicts turn to theft, prostitution, and/or manipulation of their friends and family to fund their behavior.
• The Past – Addictions do not develop in a vacuum; addicts may be genetically predisposed to addiction or they may encounter stress in their environments that leads them to choose a substance as a form of coping.  Veterans of war and the victims of child abuse, domestic violence, or rape may develop post-traumatic stress disorder and use substances to try to numb their understandable pain.

The first step toward treating addiction is acknowledging that a problem exists.  If you are trying to end an addiction to illegal drugs, visit our self-help module.  Family and friends of resistant addicts may need to consider enlisting assistance from a professional interventionist or arranging their own intervention.