It isn’t always easy to know if you are dependent on alcohol or drugs. In fact, many people don’t believe they’re addicted even after it’s clear to those around them, and there is no single factor. Addiction is a combination of factors, and only a trained counselor can determine if someone is alcohol- or drug-dependent.
Addiction counselors look for a pattern of behaviors that point to substance abuse. That pattern usually includes:
- Negative consequences of alcohol or drug use
- An inability to quit or control alcohol or drug use
- Increasing amounts and/or frequency of use of alcohol or drugs
