According to the Ohio State University Medical Center, chemical dependency is defined as "the compulsive use of chemicals (drugs or alcohol) and the inability to stop using them despite all the problems caused by their use." Chemical dependence can affect every area of a person's life. Recognizing these signs is the first step in helping an addict receive the help he needs.
Physical Signs
One of the first signs a person may display when addicted to a particular chemical, whether it is alcohol or cocaine, is physical. Depending on the drug or chemical to which he is addicted, these signs will vary. However, the person may begin to display poor personal hygiene habits and begin dressing inappropriately. His appetite may decrease, and he may experience an unexplained fluctuation in his weight. When he does not have access to his drug of choice, he may begin shaking uncontrollably, vomiting or sweating profusely. If injectable drugs are the problem, he may begin wearing long-sleeved shirts to hide the needle marks on his arms. He may also begin complaining of physical pains and discomforts on a regular basis or making frequent trips to his doctor or dentist to receive prescriptions, especially if he is addicted to prescription pain killers.
Family Life
Chemical dependency affects an addict's family life as well. In many cases, the addict will begin spending more time away from home with no explanation. Extramarital affairs are a common problem because of impaired judgment, which may also lead to sexual problems at home. Angry or violent outbursts are yet another sign, according to The Nebraska Heath and Human Services System. Depending on the addict, he may either neglect or abuse his children; in some cases, both can occur. He will begin to withdraw from family activities, choosing his addiction over his family. Abuse of his spouse is also common, and in many cases, divorce is the result of the chemical dependency.
Professional Life
An addiction to any chemical substance often results in a downward spiral of his life as a whole. This includes his professional life as well. At work, he may display inappropriate behavior or mood swings toward his coworkers. Punctuality may begin to be a problem, as may work performance. Frequent trips to the bathroom, either to use drugs he may have brought with him or to recover from the withdrawals of not having his chosen substance, are also common. He may begin borrowing money from the people he works with to support his habit, and toward the end, begin calling out sick on a regular basis.
Friendships
After an addict has destroyed nearly everything else in his life, he may feel as though he still has his friends. However, these friendships can be ruined just as easily if he begins displaying embarrassing behavior when out in public, makes a commitment for a party or a dinner and fails to show or begins isolating himself from everyone around him.
The addict may also begin to have legal problems if he drives while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, gets into an automobile accident or spends all his rent money on his addiction. If these situations occur regularly, they are a red flag of a major chemical dependency.
