When substance abuse spirals out of control, it can have serious consequences that include harm to the addict’s mental and physical health, legal troubles, financial hardship, and strained relationships.
But it can be challenging to draw the line and know exactly when it’s the best time to help with substance abuse.
Leaving us with two very important questions: when is the best time to get help? And how to get help with substance abuse?
How to Recognize Substance Abuse
The first step is to actually recognize the occurrence of a problem. These are some of the signs to look out for if you believe you or someone you love might be suffering from addiction.
- Using drugs or alcohol in dangerous situations
- Neglecting responsibilities
- Continuing to use drugs or alcohol despite negative consequences
- Developing a tolerance for drugs or alcohol
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms when attempting to stop
- Using drugs or alcohol to soothe co-occurring disorders
If you or a loved one is experiencing any of these behaviors, it’s important to take action before the problem becomes more serious. In this case, it might be a good idea to get help for substance abuse.
How to Get Help for Substance Abuse
Before we dive into the clues to discover when help for substance abuse is needed, we want to examine what can actually be done if we need help.
So how to get help for substance abuse? If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, there are numerous ways to go about it.
Talking to your primary doctor is a great way to get guidance on the best course of treatment that might be adequate for your situation. However, there are other effective ways to tackle addiction.
One of the best resources addicts have is contacting an addiction treatment center like Outpatient LA. Rehabs like Outpatient LA are extremely knowledgeable in the treatment of substance abuse and have numerous resources at their disposal to help you or your loved one recover from addiction or alcoholism.
Some of the resources available for addicts in rehab centers include 12-step programs and evidence-based therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy.
Getting help for substance abuse is a courageous and important step toward recovery. If you want to change your life, it’s never too late.
When to Get Help for Substance Abuse
Let’s face it, no one buys into the idea that help for substance abuse should be sought out the first time a user takes drugs.
In fact, this idea might even be detrimental as their harmful effects might not show right away, cunning the user into believing warnings about substance abuse are but a mere fad.
But then is help for substance abuse something that should be sought out after an addict has fallen into despair? Or when exactly?
Well, it’s undoubtedly important to seek help for substance abuse as soon as possible. As a general rule, the problem begins when it feels like there is a problem.
But the effects of substance abuse can be devastating from the onset as there are risks that addicts face like accidents or overdoses without addiction being present.
It can be difficult to know when exactly is a good time to seek out help. However, these are some key factors to consider when deciding when to seek help for substance abuse
- If substance use is becoming more frequent
- If substance use is causing negative consequences
- If you or a loved one has tried to quit using drugs or alcohol but has been unable to do so
- If you or a loved one is experiencing mental health problems
- When withdrawal symptoms show
Ultimately, the decision to seek help for substance abuse is a personal one, but one must not wait for things to get out of hand. The sooner, the better and the easier it will be to reach sobriety.
There is no shame in seeking help and doing so can be the first step towards a happier, healthier life.
Calling for Help
Now that you know how to get help with substance abuse and whether help for substance abuse is for you or not, you might be compelled to contact a treatment professional for you or your loved one suffering from addiction.
If so, Outpatient LA can help you get the help needed to get better. Contact us today and help substance abuse be a thing of the past,