Many people believe employed people can’t be addicts. Becoming addicted is easy because no one knows that’s what they’re doing. We tell ourselves we’re having fun. We need it to relax. We minimize the severity of our addiction by focusing on what we still have, not on what we have lost. For example, I have a roof over my head. I still have a job. The alcoholic says I only drink beer. The cocaine user says I don’t use meth. The meth addict says I only smoke drugs, I don’t inject them. The pill-popper says at least I don’t use heroin. Addiction denies itself in the scariest voice of all – your own.
What are the signs of a drug addict? Sometimes, it’s not always obvious that someone is struggling with addiction. Some people can effectively mask their addiction to those around them, continuing to meet societal standards like having a job, paying rent, and maintaining relationships.
Typically people who don’t outwardly show their addiction are considered “functioning addicts” but it’s important to use the term with caution. Just because someone isn’t showing stereotypical societal signs of addiction doesn’t mean it isn’t affecting them every single day.
In fact, most stereotypical signs of addiction are actually exaggerated, outdated, and work to increase stigmatization rather than minimize it. In other words, just because someone hasn’t hit rock bottom or completely burned out doesn’t mean they are not at a stage in their addiction where they need help.