Approximately 21 million Americans over the age of 12 suffer from some kind of substance abuse problem. Do you suspect that this is the case for someone in your life?

It’s not always easy to tell if someone has a drug problem. If you suspect that a friend or loved one is abusing drugs and struggling with addiction, keep reading.

Listed below are five common drug addiction symptoms that you ought to look for if you’re concerned about a loved one.

1. Physical Changes

Often, when someone is addicted to drugs, they will experience changes in their physical appearance. You might notice the following changes, for example:

• Significant weight loss or weight gain
• Glazed or bloodshot eyes
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Constricted or dilated pupils

They may experience physical health problems, too.

They might become prone to colds, respiratory infections, or other illnesses. They might also experience withdrawal symptoms (shaking, sweating, fatigue, mood swings, etc.) when they go too long without consuming their drug of choice.

2. Neglecting Responsibilities

Someone struggling with addiction may begin to neglect their responsibilities in order to continue using drugs.

They might skip work or show up late or leave early. They might also start to prioritize drug consumption over family functions and other events.

3. Isolation

Often, individuals who are abusing drugs isolate themselves from their friends or family members.

They might avoid social situations or try to get out of them so they can spend more time using drugs.

They might also change friend groups or lose contact with old friends who aren’t interested in using drugs themselves.

4. Risky Behaviors

Someone struggling with addiction might be prone to risky behaviors.

Besides the risk of consuming the drug itself, they might also engage in unsafe sexual behaviors or act on impulse when they’re shopping or out with friends.

Risky behavior can even include things like being rude or overly blunt when you’re speaking to someone else.

5. Obsession with Their Supply

Individuals who are addicted to drugs often are obsessed with maintaining their supply.

They may spend a lot of time and energy figuring out how they’re going to get their next prescription refill or purchase more drugs from a dealer.

They might also make financial sacrifices — such as neglecting to pay bills or going without other things they need — to make sure they can afford their drug of choice.

If you notice these kinds of behaviors in a loved one, it’s probably time to start trying to learn more about drug treatments programs.

Learn More Drug Addiction Symptoms Today

If you’re concerned that a loved one is abusing drugs, these five drug addiction symptoms are some of the most common ones that you might notice.

There are other, subtler signs that someone might have a problem with drugs, though.

If you want to learn more about drug addiction and what it looks like, be sure to check out some of the other addiction posts on our site today.

They’ll teach you more about addiction and give you the tools you need to help your loved one.