BeingGirl Points - Major Bragging Rights

Close
Show everyone what a superstar you are by racking up BeingGirl points. The more active you are on the site—taking quizzes and polls, playing games, commenting on articles, and submitting questions to Ask the Experts—the more points you’ll earn.
My Life

Substance Abuse

Sign in to ask the Experts

« Back to Substance Abus... Articles

Added November 21, 2011

Signs Of Addiction

  • ViewsIcon 2357
  • CommentIcon. 3
RatingStarIcon

Maybe you have an uncle who always drinks "more than he should." Maybe your dad tries to keep alcohol away from your mom because she "can't handle her liquor" and gets really angry or cries a lot when she drinks. Maybe you've seen an adult smoke pot and "become somebody else." Or maybe one of your friends can't go on the school trip because her dad spent the money on drugs.

 

These are all warning signs of addiction or a really serious drug or alcohol problem.

 

If you've seen this kind of stuff going on, you know that drugs and alcohol aren't as fun or glamorous as the movies and advertisements make them out to be. You may already know that, when people have alcohol problems or drug addictions, it's not cool or excitingit's sad, scary, and even dangerous.

 

And if you know this, you can start thinking now about the kinds of decisions you want to make for your life as an adult.

 

What is addiction?

Addiction means being dependent on a substancelike alcohol or drugs. An alcoholic or drug addict needs that substance to feel physically okay, and to feel emotionally "normal." Addiction is an illnessnot a moral "weakness." Just like a person with cancer needs professional help, so does a person with an addiction problem.

 

Why are we telling you all this stuff?

You might wonder why we're telling you all about addictionmaybe you've never even had a sip of beer!

 

Well, it's because addiction is a really unhappy way of lifefor the people who are addicted and their families.

 

We're telling you this so you KNOW. And so you'll really look at the people around you who have problems with drugs and alcohol, and you'll trust your own eyes and knowledge and judgmentand you won't be pressured by friends or what you see on TV.

 

And we're telling you because if there are people in your family who have problems with alcohol or drugsit increases the chances that you'll have problems, too. We want you to be SMART and know what's going on.

 

So get informed. It's really important.

 

Warning signs of addiction to drugs and alcohol

Here are some signs of addiction or substance abuse problems: 

  • Need drugs or alcohol to have funthey don't just like to have a few beers at a party, they need a few beers so they can feel comfortable at a party or social situation.
  • Use the substance to deal with emotions like anger or disappointment.
  • Need the substance to feel "normal"they feel uncomfortable in their own skin until they have that drink or drug. It makes them like themselves better.
  • They use the substance when they're alone.
  • Get worried if they think they can't get it or won't have enough.
  • Can't say nothey use the substance even when they don't want to.
  • Need to have it a lot (23 times a week or more).
  • Need more of it to get the same effect, they "build a tolerance."
  • Can't stopfor example, an alcoholic wouldn't be able to stop drinking once she started.
  • Have physical withdrawal symptoms when they stop.

 

Signs of addiction: Denial

People with substance abuse problems have something called denial. This means they don't believe, or deny, that they have a problem, even if everyone else sees it! They come up with all kinds of reasons of why THEY don't have a problem like:

  • "I never drink in the morning."
  • "I'm doing okay at school so I can't have a problem."
  • "All my friends use it too." (If all their friends are doing it, they probably all have problems, too!)

 

Denial is a dangerous thing because it keeps people from getting help.

Close
 
 
Rate this:
3
comments so far
afrank123
afrank123
Posted February 17, 2013
it is very scary how adults become when either they smoke pot or drink because both my parents i grew up aroud their drinking. my mom cant handle her alcohol but my dad can... is that a bad thinggg.... ? i can never tell plus my mom is always abusing pills n drinking... i dont like it because every time i try and talk to her about it she gets mad at me or doesn't want to hear it from me.
popbubbles22
popbubbles22
Posted June 22, 2012
I don't know why anyone would ever drink just because it was there. A lot of adults drink when they're at a party or a restaurant, but some drink at home because it's in the fridge.
queen supreme
queen supreme
Posted August 24, 2011
Wow I think sometimes its really sad to see people drink. It just changes some people.:/
Unlock the BG Newsletter.
Unlock the BG Newsletter
Already a member?
SIGN IN
Tampax Training Camp
Watch Videos
Always Infinity
Always Infinity
Todays Hot Poll
How often do you floss?
490172521
At least once a day.
A few times a week.
Just before a dentist’s appointment.
When I have something stuck in my teeth.
Never!
find this quiz and more
GO
Are you a
daddy's girl?
bbblink

BeingGirl.com


In order to get the best possible experience using this website, we
recommend that you use Internet Explorer 7 or above. You may
download it here.