Knowing what the alcoholism symptoms and drug addiction signs are - is crucial if you want to know whether you or someone you care about suffers from alcoholism or drug addiction.

There are whole host of signs and symptoms of alcoholism and drug addiction, but I'm not going to list them here (feel free to visit my website for that). I rather want to give you a crucial one - that if you pick up early can make all the difference.

There is a common misconception amongst people who believe that alcoholism or drug addiction is purely caused by how much you drink or use drugs. I don't believe that to be the case.

It will of course be obvious to you at certain times that a person is suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction. A drug addict for example will be so advanced in their addiction that their life simply revolves around their habit and doing anything else is almost impossible.

Likewise the alcoholic - who will be so far down the road of their addiction that their life has totally fallen apart - meaning they can't even hold down a job or maintain a relationship anymore.

Many drug addicts and alcoholics aren't yet that advanced with their addiction, however. So the secret is to see the signs and symptoms of alcoholism and drug addiction, before it gets that advanced.

And for me the telling sign and symptom of alcoholism and drug addiction is when you notice that your drinking or using begins to affect your life, i.e. the things you normally do on a daily basis.

So it means you're probably thinking more and more about the next chance you'll get to have a drink or use your drug of choice, your work is beginning to suffer, your relationships are starting to be affected - and unless you have that drink or take your drugs you increasingly find yourself struggling to cope (even if it is just mentally still because using or drinking provide you with a certain emotional comfort)

Now the difficulty is, picking up this sign of addiction - because it can be very subtle and just kind of creeps up on you without you realising. You might begin to notice a change in attitude, mood or behaviour in a person you love. If it's you, you're likely to be in denial about what's happening - but if you're really honest with yourself, you'll know a problem is developing.

There are numerous alcoholism symptoms are drug addiction signs - but if you can pick up on this one and hopefully catch it early - a successful recovery will be far easier.