According to the American Medical Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is defined as a chronic disorder. But you may often be confused about the difference between addiction and substance abuse. Yeah, it has a variation but, both substance abuse and addiction have the potential to affect your social, psychological and physical health.

If you or your loved one constantly practice addictive substances like alcohol, marijuana, hallucinogens, and opioids can lead to addiction. Whereas, Substance abuse is a disease that causes you to compulsively abuse the above-mentioned substances in spite of facing consequences.

Side effects of addiction

When you are addicted to a substance like alcohol, marijuana, stimulants, and opioids you will be facing some dangerous side effects. But these adverse effects can vary depending upon quantity and time the drug you abuse, but addiction can affect almost every organ in your system.

If you find any of the below mentioned side effects in your body, immediately visit the alcohol or drug treatment centers in order to recover from addiction and stay sober.

Here we have listed some of the short- and long-term side effects on addiction:

Short-term side effects on addiction:

• Impaired judgment
• Anemia
• Intense craving
• Loss of appetite

Long-term side effects on addiction:

• Respiratory system
• Kidney damage
• Liver damage
• Gastrointestinal damage

Substance abuse affects the brain

If you, your spouse or your child is addicted to substance abuse like drug or alcohol, it affects the brain by alerting your memory, intelligence, decision-making abilities, and understanding of happiness.

Continuous abuse of substance changes your neuron function in your brain. Once this occurs, you will understand that abusing drug or alcohol will give you the prime source of happiness, this pleasure causes you to engage in dangerous practices in order to get the substance.

Signs and Symptoms of addiction

Of course, if you are addicted to a substance like alcohol or other kinds of drug you will obviously find some signs and symptoms within in yourself, whereas these symptoms can be witnessed by other people like your family and friends.

So if you are concerned about you or someone you love may have a substance addiction. Now its time to discuss the signs and symptoms of drug or alcohol addiction.

Physical symptoms of addiction:

1. Dry mouth
2. Nausea
3. Hypotension
4. Heart attack

Behavioral symptoms of addiction:

1. Financial Problems
2. Neglecting responsibilities at work or home
3. Abusers Lie to hide their mistakes
4. Hiding Roxicodone in various places around the house
5. Mood swings

Psychosocial symptoms of addiction:

1. Anxiety
2. Anger
3. Loss of interest in significant activities
4. Hallucinations

Find a way to recover and stay sober from an addiction

Abusing alcohol or drug not only gives you enough pleasure and joy but also affects your life, your job, your self-esteem, and your entire family.

In order to get rid of this dangerous addiction, find a rehabilitation center that offers you a wide range of substance abuse treatment programs that helps you stay healthy and relaxed by offering various kinds of activities for experiential treatment.

Here are some examples of addiction treatment programs:

• Residential treatment
• Intensive outpatient programs (IOP)
• Partial hospitalization
• Therapies

These below-mentioned therapies can assist you to discover the source causes of your addiction, and improve your coping skills.

• Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
• Motivational Enhancement Therapy
• Twelve-Step program
• Individual Therapy
• Group Therapy
• Relapse Prevention

If you or your loved one is struggling with substance abuse like drug or alcohol addiction, kindly discover an alcohol or drug treatment centers which provide you the compassionate, qualified staff by utilizing the modern scientific advancements treatment programs by offering a clean, and safe atmosphere.

Don’t think that only you are addicted to a substance like alcohol or other kinds of the drug, even if there is a multiple of individuals who became addicted and also successfully accomplished recovery and now living a healthy and happy lifestyle.