Substance abuse can lead to many changes in behavior and how people interact with one another. This can include addictions lies and relationships with others. This can be done for many reasons, including covering up signs of addiction. However, it can cause serious problems in interpersonal relationships.
An addict may lie about the frequency they use a substance or engages in a particular behavior. They may also lie about their location or what they’re doing to hide their use of drugs or alcohol.
What is Addiction?
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a chronic, treatable medical condition that includes interactions between genetics, brain circuits, and life experiences.
Knowing why people with a substance abuse disorder lie can help you understand. This information can help family members, friends, and others better understand the behavior.
Avoid Confrontation
An addict may avoid confrontation because they have used their addiction as a coping strategy for many years and don’t have any other viable ways to deal with life’s stresses.
Try to be objective when discussing complex topics. Instead of blaming a friend or loved one, use language that reflects your perspective.
Avoiding forced change
A person with an addiction can be stubborn in some ways. Although they know their behavior is not in the best interests of anyone, even themselves, they have decided it is for them and are sticking with it. Addicts lie and manipulate about their addictions to keep you from putting pressure on them to change.
They will eventually realize that they can and do make changes when they know that the consequences of their actions will only get worse if they don’t do something about it.
Instead of convincing your friend or loved one, try to give information that may influence them to make a change.
Escaping Negativity
An addict may see their addiction as a holding pattern. They hope that things will improve and the addiction will go away.
They don’t want to be reminded of the negative aspects of their behavior by you, especially if they are blaming others. In addition, they may lie to hide their actions if family members are constantly criticizing them.
Focus on the positive aspects if things change, and not the negative consequences.
Loving ones may allow lying
Why do drug addicts lie? Sometimes, you may suspect that your loved one lied to you. As a result, you might let your loved one lie, even if you don’t know why. This is an example if you are enabling an addiction.
What is Enabling?
Enabling is the act of doing something for someone else that they are capable of doing for themselves. These behaviors will allow the addict to continue their addiction while avoiding the negative consequences.
This sends one or both of the following messages:
- “You told me a lie, and I didn’t notice it – so if I hear you lie again, I may not notice.”
- “You told me a lie, and I noticed it, but I’m pretending I believe you. So if you lie again, I’ll pretend to believe you that time.
Avoid discussing the topic or stating what you know instead of allowing the lie to continue.
Brain changes
Addictions such as alcohol abuse disorder can cause brain damage, such as to the frontal lobe. This damage can lead to deviant behavior like lying or increased risk-taking.
Your loved one’s behavior may be psychological if you always catch them in lies. Try to be sensitive to your loved ones and help them overcome their struggles, turning things around.
Life without drugs might seem like a void
Life can revolve around an addict’s addictive behavior, and it is often all that is left for them. Even though they say they will quit “one day,” for now, it seems like life is a void. They will lie to you if you don’t get it.
Mention positively and kindly what you would prefer to see instead of addictive behavior.
Avoiding Shame
People around addicts can often act in ways that make them embarrassed and regretful. They may lie to hide their shame if you point it out.
This is a form of enabling, which may help to avoid embarrassment outwardly but won’t do anything to alleviate your loved one’s inner emotional pain.
Denialism
An addict may not be aware that they have a problem. However, they may also be aware of the possibility that others might feel the same, which can lead to lying.
People can avoid being open and honest about their problems, which allows them to continue living in denial.
To Avoid Being Caught
Sometimes lying serves another purpose: to avoid being caught. It could be that they are worried about the legal and judicial consequences of their drug addiction.
They might also be concerned about the personal consequences of being caught, such as losing their job or relationships.
Brain Chemistry Changes
Addiction can cause brain changes, such as in reward systems. These reward systems often play a role in goal-directed behavior. Addictions can lead to intense highs, which serve to reinforce the experience.
The brain becomes more dependent on these addictive substances over time. This alters the brain’s chemicals so it can no longer activate those reward pathways. This addiction fuels the desire to keep experiencing the same pleasures.
People might lie if they cannot make rational decisions about their lives or behavior.
What can you do?
You can do many things at home to prevent your loved one from abusing drugs.
Drugs taken from your home medicine cabinet can lead to dangerous addiction. You should lock up all prescription medication and eliminate any that you no longer need.
Talk to your teens often about prescription pills and their addictive nature. Unfortunately, many teens mistakenly believe that a prescription pill can be less dangerous than illegal drugs.
Be aware of the signs and symptoms of teenage drug abuse.
You should seek professional help and addiction treatment if you suspect your teen/family member is already on the path to addiction. You are not the only one.
For confidential, 24-hour treatment information and referrals for families and individuals suffering from substance abuse disorders, contact Hathaway Recovery today.
