Am I Addicted to Drugs? Infographic
How Do I Know If I Am Addicted? Educational Material Provided By Drugabuse.gov
If you can’t stop taking a drug even if you have tried to am I addictedand you want to, or if the urge to use drugs is too strong to control, even if you know the drug is causing harm, you might be addicted. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
1. Do you think about the drug of choice a lot? 2. Have you ever tried to stop or cut down on your drug usage but found that you couldn’t? 3. Have you ever thought you couldn’t fit in or have a good time without the use of drugs? 4. Have you ever used a drug without knowing what it was or what it would do to you? 5. Have you ever taken one drug to get over the effects of another? 6. Have you ever made mistakes at a job or at school because you were using drugs? 7. Do you ever use drugs because you are upset or angry at people? 8. Does the thought of running out of drugs scare you? 9. Have you ever stolen drugs or stolen to pay for your drugs? 10. Have you ever been arrested or gone to the hospital because of your drug use? 11. Have you ever overdosed on drugs? 12. Has using drugs hurt your relationships with your family or other people?
If the answer to some or all of these questions is yes, you might have an addiction. People from all backgrounds can get an addiction. Addiction can happen at any age, but it usually starts when a person is young. See NIDA’s video, below:
Through scientific advances, we know more than ever about how drugs work in the brain. We also know that drug addiction can be successfully treated to help people stop abusing drugs and lead productive lives. If you think you might be addicted, seek the advice of your doctor or an addiction specialist.
You might think that only some types of people can get addicted to drugs. The truth is, it can happen to anyone, whether you’re young or old, rich or poor, male or female. This video from NIDA explains addiction in simple terms and offers a hotline to help you or a loved one find treatment. For more information, visit http://www.easyread.drugabuse.gov
