Addiction: Signs, Symptoms, and Steps to Recovery

Addiction is a major issue on college campuses today. A person is considered “addicted”
to a if they feel that they have to use regularly, if they can’t stop using, if they make certain
they keep a supply of the substance, if they spend money on drugs or substances they cannot
afford, or if they take extreme risks, like driving, while under the influence.
Signs of addiction can include changes in quality of schoolwork or issues with physical
health, but are more often substance-specific. For example, someone abusing prescription
drugs like Xanax or Valium may seem drowsy, have memory problems, slur their speech, or
become dizzy, while someone under the influence of methamphetamines may speak very
quickly, show signs of euphoria, or seem restless and/or irritable. Narcotics (such as heroin),
marijuana, and prescription pain meds are all “downers”: depressants that sedate the user and
cause the heart rate to drop and breathing to slow. Depressants tend to give the user a feeling
of extreme relaxation. Hallucinogens (LSD, PCP), methamphetamines, and cocaine, as well as
club drugs like ketamine and ecstasy are “uppers”, stimulants which raise the heart rate. Many
of these stimulants cause a feeling of intense happiness in users.

Detox and rehabilitation can be painful and difficult, but is necessary. The most
popular method of recovering from addiction is the 12 Step Program, developed by Alcoholics
Anonymous in the 30s. Since then, the 12 Steps have been picked up by a number of other
rehabilitation programs. However, the 12 Step Program has been criticized on a number
of occasions for its insistence that program users accept belief in a “Power greater than
[themselves].”
For information about rehabilitation centers or methods of rehabilitation, visit the
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administation’s website at www.samhsa.gov, or
call 1-800-662-HELP.