3 Symptoms of Addiction

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3 Symptoms of Addiction

09 April, 2021Articles, News

We see it in the media – the stereotypical image of what addiction looks like – addicts in derelict buildings, homeless people who look dishevelled and dirty, people who can’t hold down a job. While these may be accurate representations of what addiction could look like, symptoms of addiction are sometimes easily missed because they aren’t what people expect. We’ve listed 3 of the common signs to look out for when you suspect that someone might be abusing substances and the abuse has raged out of control and has become an addiction.

Isolation

Often, addicts and alcoholics start off enjoying drugs and alcohol within a social context. But addiction is a progressive disease, and over time, addicted individuals will often start using or drinking alone. Addicts isolate themselves for a number of reasons. The more someone cares about an addict in active addiction, the more of a hindrance they are to the addicts’ path of self-destruction. For this reason, one of the most common addiction symptoms is isolation, especially from loved ones and close associates.

Financial Instability

A common, shared experience that many recovering addicts and alcoholics attest to in retrospect, is that maintaining a relationship with substances costs money. Therefore, one of the more obvious signs of addiction is financial instability, which may result in the addict taking loans, getting into debt and borrowing or stealing money to maintain their habit. If they are employed, many addicts appear to never have money, even soon after they have been paid a salary.

Dishonesty

Addicts and alcoholics resort to telling lies in order to maintain their addictive behaviour. In the beginning, their dishonesty may pertain to their whereabouts, how they are spending their money or why they seem to be isolated from their loved ones. But as time goes on, their lies may become more elaborate. Often, they may choose to tell a lie when it is not necessary. One lie covers up another until a web of lies has formed and it becomes almost impossible to distinguish between fact and fiction. Dishonesty is therefore one of the key symptoms of addiction to look out for.

This is not an exhaustive list of symptoms of addiction and it’s important to understand that the disease of addiction manifests differently from individual to individual. The signs listed above are some of the more common ones to look out for but remember, “addiction doesn’t always look like addiction,” so if you are in doubt or need a professional opinion, contact us and we will be able to share our experience with you.

If you or a loved one needs assistance with addiction – know that help is readily available. The road to recovery is not always an easy one but getting yourself or your loved one the best possible care from the team at Crossroads Recovery Centre, provides you with a map to sober, healthy living. No matter how bad things seem, there is hope and it’s just a phone call away. If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex, gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment.

www.crossroadsrecovery.co.za

074 89 51043 JHB

012 450 5033 PTA

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Stories of Recovery

The encouragement, love and support from the team at Crossroads allowed me to eventually see that I was worth something - that my life could be turned around and that I could accomplish the things that had long been a forgotten dream.
Oliver VG
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On the last day of my stint at Crossroads I could only express gratitude towards all who works there. A wise councillor once commented on my question when one is ready for rehab by explaining that when one is ready for rehab, rehab is ready for you.
Johan B
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I was lost and my soul was broken until I ended up at Crossroads and was introduced to the Twelve Steps. With the help of their excellent staff and amazing support I have recently been clean for 18 months, I could not have done it without them!
Carla S
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What Does Nyaope Do To The Body?

Reach out now, we can help

Home / Archive by category "News" (Page 69)

What Does Nyaope Do To The Body?

07 April, 2021Articles, News

Nyaope is a street drug that is ravaging informal settlement, poor communities and city centres across South Africa. It is available at a low price and is physically addictive; this results in users quickly becoming addicted and terrorizing communities for that next high. Nyaope is primarily made up of low-grade heroin. It appears as a white or brown powder that is smoked with marijuana or, as the addiction progresses, it is injected intravenously.
Because nyaope is physically addictive, users can experience severe withdrawal symptoms such as:

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Nausea
Vomiting
Anxiety
Depression
Excessive yawning or sneezing
Stomach cramps
Muscle and bone cramps
Sweats
Chills
Spasms
Diarrhea
itching
The associated pain and fear of withdrawal keep the user in a constant state of use (a cycle). After the initial effects of euphoria and relaxation, a feeling of drowsiness and elation can persist for several hours. Mental function is clouded and heart functions, as well as breathing functions, are slowed.
Most users of nyaope start off smoking it, once their tolerance to the substance builds up, the user moves on to injecting themselves in order to achieve a more intense ‘high’. The consequences of long-term use can be grave and long-lasting. Some of the consequences of long term nyaope use are:

Hepatitis
HIV
Abscesses
Scaring from continued injecting
Venous sclerosis
Bacterial/Fungal endocarditis
Overdose and death

The consequences of nyaope addiction are long-lasting and devastating, not only for the addict but their families and their communities. Getting professional help is necessary for anyone coming off nyaope, a medical detox is needed- then the addict needs assistance learning to cope and manage with life without the use of substances.

If you or a loved one need assistance with detoxing from nyaope – know that help is readily available. The road to recovery is not always an easy one but getting yourself or your loved one the best care from the team at Crossroads Recovery Centre, provides you with a map to sober, healthy living. No matter how bad things seem, there is hope and it’s just a phone call away. If you or anyone close to you needs help with an addiction to sex, gambling, substances, alcohol or food, please contact us for a free assessment.

FAQs and Answers

1. What is nyaope made of?
Nyaope is typically a mix of low-grade heroin combined with other substances such as antiretroviral drugs, detergents or rat poison, making it extremely dangerous.

2. How does nyaope affect the body?
It slows heart and breathing functions, clouds mental ability, and causes euphoria followed by drowsiness. Long-term use damages veins and organs.

3. Is nyaope addictive after first use?
Yes. Because nyaope contains heroin and other harmful substances, even first-time use can lead to physical and psychological dependence.

4. What are the withdrawal symptoms of nyaope?
Withdrawal symptoms include nausea, vomiting, cramps, sweats, chills, spasms, diarrhoea, depression, anxiety and severe itching.

5. Can smoking nyaope lead to injecting?
Most users start by smoking nyaope, but as tolerance builds, many switch to injecting to achieve a stronger high, which increases health risks.

6. What long-term health risks come from nyaope use?
Long-term risks include HIV, hepatitis, abscesses, venous sclerosis, endocarditis, scarring, overdose and even death.

7. How can someone recover from nyaope addiction?
Recovery requires medical detox under supervision, followed by therapy and support programmes to help individuals live without substance use.

8. Where can people get help for nyaope addiction in South Africa?
Support is available through treatment centres like Crossroads Recovery Centre, offering professional detox and rehabilitation services.