How Do You Know When You’re Addicted?

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There is a fine line between recreational drug use, dependency and addiction. It’s even harder to tell where you stand on the dependency spectrum when conducting a self-evaluation. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine whether or not you have a substance addiction.

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How Often?

How often do you get high? Are you taking increasing amounts of the drug as time goes on because you’ve developed a tolerance to the lower amounts that used to get you to the same high? The higher the frequency of drug use, the higher the volume of the drug is needed to match the “goal” high.

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How Are Your Relationships?

Addiction has a very negative impact on relationships—it can drive people out of your life and you can be driven out of theirs. Many addicts strain their ties with their families, friends and even their kids if the situation really deteriorates.

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Are You Making Risky Decisions?

People with addictions often put themselves and others at risk because they start to make unthoughtful decisions. Addiction takes over the mind and hinders a person’s ability to make rational decisions. Their actions and behavior often revolves around drugs, as they are preoccupied with what are they feeling during their current high and how they can get more drugs.

Do I Need Help?

This is one of the hardest questions to ask yourself, but it could be what saves your life. A person who is ready to get help will be able to answer this question honestly. An addict who is deep in their substance abuse will not be able to recognize they need help. You might need an extra push from a family member or friend, so don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

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