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SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ADDICTION
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| Substance Abuse |
Addiction |
Substance abusers excessively and consistently use a drug, leading to:
- Poor work performance and decision making
- Damage to family and social relationships
- Legal problems
- Harmful situations
However, the person’s body does not physically depend on the drug.
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Addiction is also called substance dependence. People center their lives around obtaining and using the drug. Even though the consequences are similar to that of substance abuse, people are considered to have an addiction only if their bodies are physically dependent on the drug. Physical dependence happens when the body depends on the drug to function normally. The key features are tolerance and withdrawal. |
| What is Tolerance?
When a person develops tolerance, he/she she needs a larger amount of the drug in order to feel its effects. This happens when they have taken the smaller dose so many times that his/her body no longer responds to it.
What is Withdrawal?
Withdrawal occurs when a person takes a drug so much that his/her body depends on it to function normally—and then suddenly stops taking it. When he/she stops taking the drug, his/her body is not expecting that change and cannot function normally. Side effects, such as vomiting, occur until the body adjusts. |
Signs of Abuse or Addiction
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- Oversleeping during the day due to insomnia (e.g., falling asleep at work)
- Mood swings and temper outbursts for no apparent reason
- Decreased productivity
- Inability to concentrate
- Irritability
- Loss of motivation
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- Lethargy and sluggishness
- Frequent unexplained absences or tardiness to work/school
- Impaired judgment
- Inability to remember things
- Poor body coordination/movement
- Smell of alcohol on breath
- Redness/bloodshot eyes
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1-866-EAS-9133
For Further Information or Confidential Counseling
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