Last Updated:
June 5th, 2025
Addiction Signs and Symptoms | Spotting Addiction
It has long been understood that the earlier professional help is sought for addiction, the better the chances of making a full and lasting recovery. One of the best ways to spot an emerging problem early is to look out for the signs and symptoms of common addictions. Here are some long-term and short-term addiction symptoms to look out for:
Reduced consciousness
Feeling less alert or spaced out can be a troubling sign of addiction, especially with substances that dull your senses, like alcohol or sedatives.
Reduced consciousness
Teeth clenching
Regular teeth clenching when using stimulants like MDMA or methamphetamine often escalates as an addiction progresses.
Teeth clenching
Drowsiness
Feeling sleepy or drowsy all the time can be a sign of various common addictions, particularly if you are regularly using sedatives or other depressants.
Drowsiness
Elevated mood
Drugs that artificially elevate your mood can be addictive as you start chasing the highs again and again.
Elevated mood
Nasal congestion
Nasal congestion from snorting cocaine or other drugs is a telltale sign of addiction and can result in significant damage to the nasal cavities and sinus health.
Nasal congestion
Involuntary shaking/tremors
Tremors or uncontrolled shaking, especially noticeable in the hands, can be signs of alcohol or benzodiazepine addiction and are also common withdrawal symptoms for many substances.
Involuntary shaking/tremors
Lack of inhibition
Chronic use of alcohol or stimulants like cocaine can significantly lower inhibitions, often leading to dangerous or out-of-character behaviours.
Lack of inhibition
Lack of pain sensation
Opioids and other pain-relieving drugs can lead to a diminished sensation of pain, a common symptom when the body becomes accustomed to regular drug use.
Lack of pain sensation
Lack of awareness/inattention to surrounding people and things
Frequent substance use often results in a bubble-like state where addicts lose track of what is happening around them.
Lack of awareness/inattention to surrounding people and things
Violent behaviour
Substance addiction and withdrawal can both lead to unexpected and uncharacteristic violent outbursts as people struggle with the mental and physical effects.
Violent behaviour
Slurred speech
Many addictive substances, particularly depressants, can cause slurred speech by slowing down brain functions and affecting speech coordination.
Slurred speech
Restlessness
Restlessness is a frequent symptom seen in those addicted to stimulants like cocaine and methamphetamine, as these drugs heighten nervous system activity.
Restlessness
Delirium
Delirium caused by alcohol or drug addiction or withdrawal can come on suddenly and create confusion, behavioural changes and even hallucinations.
Delirium
Slowed breathing
Addiction to substances that depress the nervous system can massively increase the risk of slowed breathing and even potentially fatal respiratory depression.
Slowed breathing
Tooth decay
Tooth decay among people with addictions to opioids, methamphetamine or cocaine comes from a combination of decreased saliva production and poor diet and oral hygiene.
Tooth decay
Panic attacks
Panic attacks often come as a response to anxiety heightened by stimulant addiction or during withdrawal from substances like alcohol and benzodiazepines.
Panic attacks
Problems thinking clearly
Substances that depress or overstimulate the nervous system can cause persistent foggy thinking, making daily life a struggle for many people with addictions.
Problems thinking clearly
Constipation
Constipation is a frequently encountered issue in people with addictions to opioids as these drugs slow down the body’s digestive system.
Constipation
Irritability
Irritability is one of the most common signs of addiction and withdrawal due to both the physical and psychological effects of frequent substance abuse.
Irritability
Combativeness
Combativeness often reflects an inner struggle which can come out as defensive and aggressive behaviours when an addiction is questioned or threatened.
Combativeness
Runny nose/sore nose
A runny or sore nose is a common symptom among chronic users of inhaled drugs like cocaine or methamphetamine, resulting from irritation and damage to the nasal passages.
Runny nose/sore nose
Poor judgement
Poor judgment is a hallmark of addiction, where constant substance abuse and an obsession with obtaining more drugs or alcohol overpowers logical thinking and decision-making.
Poor judgement
Muscle cramping
Muscle cramping is among the most frequent signs of dependency, most commonly seen during withdrawal from substances like alcohol and opioids.
Muscle cramping
How to help someone with addiction?
The complexity of addiction symptoms and causes means that recovery requires professional treatment. This starts with detox where you are carefully weaned off drugs or alcohol to reduce the discomfort and danger of the withdrawal symptoms explained above.
Detox breaks physical dependency so that you can go on to address mental and emotional reliance through rehab. This is a programme of therapies and recovery techniques designed to address the root causes of substance abuse and reshape your thoughts and behaviours. Both detox and rehab programmes are available through the NHS and private treatment facilities across Britain.
If you want to find out more about your options or you have spotted some worrying signs of addiction, get in touch with us today for expert advice. We can help you find the best treatment programme for your needs and get you started on the path to recovery.
