Don't let substance abuse control you
William James Dougherty has over 15 years of experience helping people overcome substance abuse. Schedule your initial consultation to begin your journey down the road to recovery.
Addictions can take many forms, most commonly substances like drugs or alcohol, but also sex, food and gambling. While the substance related addictions have become recognized and more understood by society in general, there still remains stigma and shame attached to these conditions. Behavioral addiction (such as sexual, eating or gambling) is still very misunderstood by society (and even health professionals without a background in addiction) and judged harshly, which leads to guilt and suffering in silence. Ease your suffering by speaking with William, who has extensive experience working in the addictions field.
Do you suspect your adolescent or family member of substance abuse?
The following behaviors can be warning signs of problems related to alcohol or other substance use. These behaviors are not exclusively linked to alcohol or drug use problems. If an initial evaluation rules out substance use, further evaluation is indicated to identify and address the behaviors of concern, whatever their origin.
If you see the following signs in your child, or other family members, schedule an appointment.
Signs to look out forSchool Activities
- Drop in school performance.
- Irregular school attendance.
- Unexplained drop in grades.
- Feelings of loneliness, paranoia, and depression.
- Frequent accidents.
- Frequent "flu" episodes, chronic cough, chest pains, and "allergy" symptoms.
- Impaired ability to fight off common infections, fatigue, and loss of vitality.
- Impaired short-term memory.
- Inexplicable mood changes, e.g., irritability, hostility.
- Change in health or grooming.
- Decreased interest in school or family social activities, sports, and hobbies.
- Failure to provide specific answers to questions about activities.
- Not bringing friends home.
- Not returning home after school.
- Personal time that is unaccounted for.
- Strange phone calls.
- Unexplained disappearance of possessions in the home.
- Verbal (or physical) mistreatment of younger siblings.
- Desire to be secretive or isolated.
- Increased money or poor justification of how money was spent.
Relationships with Peers
- Dropping old friends.
- New group of friends.
- Attending parties where parents are not home to monitor behavior.
- Change in personal priorities.
- Collecting beer cans or drug paraphernalia.
- Possession of "drug" materials.
- Wearing clothing or jewelry that is symbolic of the drug culture.
Overcome your substance addiction. Schedule your initial consultation today.
Providing client-centered counseling for individuals, couples and adolescents.