Adiction Symptoms

Determining that you or a loved one has a chemical dependency on drugs or alcohol is not an easy task. A person may be substance dependent if substance use over a 12 month period results in three or more of the following:

• cannot fulfill major responsibilities at home, school, or office
• continues using substance even when it is physically dangerous
• repeated legal problems because of substance use
• more substance is required to product the same effect
• the substance is required to relieve withdrawal symptoms
• the length of use or amount of use of substance is greater than intended
• repeatedly tries but fails to limit substance use
• much time is spent using, recovering from, or obtaining the substance
• even knowing the physical or psychological problems of using, continues to use the substance

For additional information on alcohol abuse, go to the Alcoholics Anonymous Web Site. For additional information on substance dependence, go to the Narcotics Anonymous Web Site.