HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS?
Symptoms of an alcohol or substance use disorder can be mild, moderate or severe, based on the number of symptoms you experience. Signs and symptoms may include:
Denial is a common feature of substance abuse and addiction. You may feel like you don't have a problem with drinking or drugs. You might not recognize how much or how often you drink and use, or how many problems in your life are related to your habit. It's often difficult for people with substance use issues to realize they've crossed the invisible line from social use to problematic use, so it's important to take note if relatives, friends, or trusted others express concerns, suggest you need to examine your drinking/using habits, or ask you to seek help.
What do I do if I think I might have an issue with alcohol or other drugs?
Consider talking with a medical or mental health professional who can further assess your use of alcohol and/or other drugs. They can also help you gain a clear understanding of your relationship with substances, and identify and reach your goal(s) for that relationship moving forward.
- Difficulties limiting the amount of alcohol you drink or drugs you use
- A desire to cut down on how much you drink or drug and/or making unsuccessful attempts to do so
- Spending a lot of time drinking, using, getting alcohol or drugs, and/or recovering from drinking or using
- Experiencing strong desires, cravings or urges to drink alcohol or use drugs
- Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home due to repeated alcohol and/or drug use
- Spending money on alcohol and/or drugs, even though you can't afford it
- Continuing to drink alcohol or use drugs even though you know it's causing physical, social, work or relationship problems
- Giving up or reducing social and work activities and hobbies to use alcohol and/or drugs
- Doing things to get alcohol or drugs that you normally wouldn't do, such as stealing
- Driving or doing other risky activities when you're under the influence
- Developing a tolerance to alcohol and drugs so you need more to feel the effect (or a diminished effect from the usual amount)
- Experiencing withdrawal symptoms — such as nausea, sweating and shaking — when you don't drink or use drugs, or drinking alcohol and/or using drugs to avoid these symptoms
Denial is a common feature of substance abuse and addiction. You may feel like you don't have a problem with drinking or drugs. You might not recognize how much or how often you drink and use, or how many problems in your life are related to your habit. It's often difficult for people with substance use issues to realize they've crossed the invisible line from social use to problematic use, so it's important to take note if relatives, friends, or trusted others express concerns, suggest you need to examine your drinking/using habits, or ask you to seek help.
What do I do if I think I might have an issue with alcohol or other drugs?
Consider talking with a medical or mental health professional who can further assess your use of alcohol and/or other drugs. They can also help you gain a clear understanding of your relationship with substances, and identify and reach your goal(s) for that relationship moving forward.
GAMBLING DISORDER: IS GAMBLING REALLY AN ADDICTION?
Researchers have demonstrated ample evidence demonstrating that gambling activates the same brain reward system with effects similar to those of drugs of abuse. Gambling disorder, also called gambling addiction or compulsive gambling, is a pattern of betting that continues even though it creates problems within your life.
Gambling is any activity where you risk something valuable to win something in return. Common types of gambling include:
This mental health condition can affect your relationships, work or school performance, finances and more. It changes how your brain works and can cause withdrawal, tolerance and cravings. This is similar to other addictions like substance use disorder.
A major sign of problem gambling is when betting starts to harm important parts of your life. Look out for these signs:
Gambling is any activity where you risk something valuable to win something in return. Common types of gambling include:
- Bingo
- Casino games
- Lottery
- Slot machines
- Sports betting
This mental health condition can affect your relationships, work or school performance, finances and more. It changes how your brain works and can cause withdrawal, tolerance and cravings. This is similar to other addictions like substance use disorder.
A major sign of problem gambling is when betting starts to harm important parts of your life. Look out for these signs:
- Continuing to gamble even when it causes major problems.
- Depending on others to give you money to gamble or pay off your losses.
- Feeling upset or angry when you try to stop.
- Gambling when you feel sad, stressed or upset (to escape bad feelings).
- Gambling to win back money you already lost (“chasing losses”).
- Hiding or lying to loved ones about how much you gamble.
- Needing to bet more money to feel the same excitement.
- Thinking about gambling all the time.
- Trying many times to cut back or stop, but not being able to.
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