About Your Use

If you continue to use substances despite harmful consequences, you could be addicted. It is important to talk to a medical professional about it—your health and future could be at stake.

Have friends or family told you that you are behaving differently for no apparent reason—such as acting withdrawn, frequently tired or depressed, or hostile? You should listen and ask yourself if they are right—and be honest with yourself. These changes could be a sign you are developing a drug-related problem.

Only you know for sure if you are developing a problem because of your drug use. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the following are a few signs of problematic substance use:

• hanging out with different friends
• not caring about your appearance
• declining performance at work or at school
• losing interest in your favorite activities
• getting in trouble in school or with the law
• having different eating or sleeping habits
• having more problems with family members and friends

For a more complete list of warning signs of substance use, visit the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids. You can also complete an online screening tool through the MA Substance Use Helpline website to help you determine if your substance use has become problematic.

Just remember that there is no one type of person who becomes addicted. It can happen to anyone. Thanks to science, we know more than ever before about how drugs work in the brain, and we also know that addiction can be successfully treated to help young people stop using drugs and lead productive lives. Asking for help early, when you first suspect you have a problem, is important; don’t wait to become addicted before you seek help.  If you think you are addicted, there is treatment that can work. Don’t wait another minute to ask for help.