If you use narcotics or drink alcohol regularly, you may assume that you’re perfectly normal and are just doing what everyone else does. In some ways you may be right; even though they’re illegal, many people use narcotics and many people drink on a regular basis. But how do you know if you’re actually an addict and not just a normal user? How do you know when your use has become dangerous or something to change?
It’s good to remember that there is an actual definition for the word addict, but often it’s not a matter of wondering if you fit some type of legal or technical definition. You want to consider this because you wonder if it’s time to seek help or to make changes in your behavior, whether you fit that actual definition or not. This is worth considering because anyone seeking treatment for drug or alcohol use and abuse can get that treatment without technically being called an addict.
When to Get Help
It’s also good to think about this because you may want to get that help as soon as possible, before your use becomes an outright issues. Why wait until you’re technically an addict to get control over your habits and behavior? Why wait until you lose your home and material possessions and even put yourself in danger before getting treatment?
Whether or not you’re an addict, there is help available to you.Here are some things to consider when it comes to these habits and being an addict or not. One is the danger you put yourself in when you misuse narcotics or alcohol. Drunk driving is still a serious problem and causes thousands of fatalities every year. This means the more you abuse alcohol, the more likely you are to get behind the wheel and hurt yourself or someone else. You don’t need to truly be an addict to be in this danger.The same goes for using narcotics. You don’t need to technically be an addict to be in danger because of this habit.
Narcotics are illegal and can result in hefty fines and jail time. Typically the persons you buy them from are dangerous and unpredictable. They also alter a person’s behavior and lower their inhibitions so that they can do something bad or have something bad happen to them when under their influence. You don’t need to be an addict for these dangers to be very real to you.
Your Own Decision
Another thing to consider is just how you feel about your use overall. Again, you don’t need to be an actual addict to think that it’s time for a change. If you decide that you spend too much money on these habits or they’re interfering with your life in any way, it’s time to get help.
Rehab facilities often deal with such patients and know that not everyone needs to be an actual addict to receive their treatment and counseling.
