Drugs and alcohol are highly addictive. Learn more about substance use disorder (SUD) and how to get help for someone struggling.

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You can also text “Support” to 85511 to speak to someone with personal experience living with mental health concerns or substance use disorder. Learn more about Minnesota resources for substance use disorder.

Substance use disorder (SUD) affects a person’s brain and behavior in a way that makes them unable to control their use of substances.

This means an individual will continue to seek out and use substances despite harmful consequences. Knowing the signs of SUD is critical to treating and preventing the disease.

Physical warning signs
    • Bloodshot eyes, pupils larger or smaller than usual.
    • Deterioration of physical appearance, personal grooming habits.
    • Runny nose or sniffling.
    • Sudden weight loss or weight gain.
    • Tremors, slurred speech, or impaired coordination.
    • Unusual odors on breath, body, or clothing.
Psychological symptoms
    • Appearing fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason.
    • Periods of unusual increased energy, nervousness, or instability.
    • Sudden mood swings, increased irritability, or angry outbursts.
    • Unexplained change in personality or attitude.
Changes in behavior
    • Changes in appetite or sleep patterns.
    • Sudden change in friends, favorite hangouts, and hobbies. This may include withdrawing from people, places, and activities altogether.
    • Being more guarded or defensive and engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors.
    • Frequently getting into legal trouble, including fights, accidents, illegal activities, and driving under the influence.
    • Unexplained need for money or financial problems. May borrow or steal money.
    • Increased drug tolerance, meaning more of the drug is needed over time to experience the same effects.

Understanding your risk for developing SUD can help you make smart decisions.

  • Substance use can run in families.

    If family members struggle with drugs or alcohol, your risk is higher because of both genes and growing up around it.  

  • Being in environments where substance use is normalized may make you more likely to use.

    Spending time with friends or family who use drugs can make using substances seem normal and okay. Living in a home with abuse, neglect, housing or food insecurity, or in a community where violence is common may also increase your risk.

  • Developing brains are vulnerable.

    If you’re under 25, your brain is still developing. Using substances now can harm your brain and increase your chance of SUD later.

  • Poor coping skills increase risk.

    Feeling anxious, depressed, or stressed is normal. But using drugs to cope can create a harmful cycle that makes mental health worse and leads to SUD.

Symptoms of withdrawal vary depending on the type of drug(s) an individual has developed a dependence on and how often the drug(s) is consumed. Common symptoms include feeling anxious or depressed, excessive sweating, difficulty sleeping or insomnia, nausea and vomiting, and diarrhea.

Different substances can produce varied symptoms:

  • Alcohol withdrawal symptoms:

    • Hand tremors.
    • Dehydration.
    • Increased heart rate.
    • Elevated blood pressure.

  • Nicotine withdrawal symptoms:

    • Irritability.
    • Headache.
    • Difficulty concentrating.
    • Feeling hungrier or gaining weight.

  • Opioid withdrawal symptoms:

    • Hot or cold flashes.
    • Muscle cramps.
    • Runny nose and eyes.
    • Aching muscles and body pain.
    • Restless legs that won’t stay still.
    • Itchy skin with no clear cause.

  • Cannabis withdrawal symptoms:

    • Restlessness.
    • Decreased appetite or weight loss.
    • Experiencing strange or unsettling dreams.

Depending on the situation, withdrawal can be deadly, especially when trying to quit on your own. Resources are available to help. Receiving professional treatment through medical detox and other support services helps keep individuals safe and as comfortable as possible through the detox process.

This project is possible, fully or in part, as a result of grant funding recommended by the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council (OERAC) and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official policies the Minnesota Department of Human services; nor mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the state of Minnesota.