The words "substance abuse" are thrown around in many medical circles, and sometimes it has different meanings to different industries. The dictionary defines this term as an addictive or inappropriate habitual use of a chemical, liquid, or solid. Dr. Kent Smalley of the Neurowellness Clinic in Edmond, OK, is familiar with substance abuse issues and specializes in treating these types of addictions.
Examples of Substance Abuse in Oklahoma City, OK
It's important to understand that addiction is classified as a disease and you or your loved one will need help getting through it. Some examples of substance abuse are addiction to alcohol, nicotine, heroin, cocaine, meth, prescription medications, marijuana, and others. In extreme cases, it's also considered abuse when a person engages in deliberate self-poisoning (such as with two or more of these substances taken simultaneously to obtain an altered state of mood or mind).
Abuse can also include the improper use or overuse of any other type of legal substance. In the case of legal substances, a person can be considered to have an over or improper use of the substance if it's negatively affecting the person medically or is causing them to harm themselves or others. An abuse classification may also be accurate if the person feels they have to hide the substance or when they consume it, or if their life has placed the substance before self-care, job, or family.
How to Know When Someone is Trapped by Substance Abuse
There are several signs that a person you know might be trapped in substance abuse.
- Sudden changes in sleep, adopting irregular or unusual sleep patterns
- Significant changes in appetite
- A significant change in mood
- Sudden problems focusing on tasks, difficulty remembering things
- Sharp lack of interest in things a person once loved
- New hygiene issues such as not showering as often as they used to without good cause
When a person is trapped in substance abuse in Oklahoma City, OK, these changes can be gradual or happen very quickly. Some of these symptoms may also occur due to other serious mental illness issues such as schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, and others. Because some of the signs that show substance abuse also indicate other medical conditions, it's best to talk with an addiction specialist like Dr. Kent Smalley of the Neurowellness Clinic in Edmond, OK, to help sort it out.
How to Get Help for Substance Abuse in Oklahoma City, OK
If your loved one is caught up in substance abuse, call the Neurowellness Clinic for help. The staff at this clinic can guide you on how to get started on the road to recovery. Even if your loved one isn't letting you in, the staff can help you find ways to get them into recovery.
They have helped various people all across the Sooner State who are struggling with substance abuse issues and getting these addictions off of their backs. They have also helped families rebuild broken relationships that took place while enduring the habit of substance abuse.
Contact Dr. Kent Smalley at the Neurowellness Clinic in Edmond, OK, serving Oklahoma City, OK, and the greater surrounding areas for help. Call them at (405) 696-3773 to get more information!