Drinking and drug use often begins recreationally. When socializing with friends, many young adults use alcohol or drugs to fit in or to experiment with the side effects of various substances. Some people have no problem knowing their limits and keeping their substance use casual. As a result, they are unlikely to experience any adverse consequences of drug use or drinking. However, others discover drugs or alcohol have become intertwined with their daily lives. How can you tell if you have a drinking or drug problem?

How to Spot a Substance Use Disorder

It’s not always easy to recognize a drinking or drug problem, especially when it concerns your behavior. Addiction and denial are common bedfellows, which is why admitting you have developed a drug or alcohol dependency can be such a significant hurdle to overcome. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to help determine whether your drinking or drug use has crossed the line between recreational and problematic.

• Have you ever tried to stop drinking or using, only to experience one or more withdrawal symptoms?
• Do you use alcohol and drugs as a coping mechanism to deal with stress or anxiety?
• Have friends ever told you they were worried about you?
• When you are sober, do you find yourself continually looking forward to using or drinking?
• Do you find yourself compulsively reaching for alcohol or drugs, even when they cause problems in your life?
• Do you feel guilty about how much you use or drink?
• Have you ever blacked out from drinking too much?
• Does it take increasing amounts of your substance of use to achieve your desired feeling?
• Do you feel the need to rationalize your behavior to others?
• Have you ever tried to hide your substance use by drinking or using alone?
• Have you lied about the amount you drink or use?
• Is it hard for you to envision life without alcohol or drugs?

What to Do If You Suspect You Have a Drinking or Drug Problem

When you consider the questions above, it’s essential to be honest with yourself. If you’ve answered “yes” to some or all of them, it’s not too late to reclaim control of your life. Admitting you have a drinking or drug problem is the first step to overcoming it. There is no shame in seeking help for a substance dependency. Society has stigmatized addiction as a moral flaw, but the truth is that it’s a disease that can affect anyone. Because of the complexities of how alcohol and drugs affect the reward pathways in the brain, professional counseling and treatment is the best way to learn to manage your illness and get back on a positive path.

Start Your Recovery Here

Are you ready to stop making excuses for your substance abuse and get the help you deserve? Spearhead Lodge is here to help you discover the joys of a healthy, sober life. Alcohol and drugs rob many young men of their potential. Don’t let that happen to you. Call us to discover the benefits of our young adult rehab in Austin, Texas.