If you’re looking for some words that can be used to describe a person addicted to drugs, we’ve included 10 for you below. Continue reading to get some ideas on how to describe a drug addict in writing.
1. Addled
Definition
Confused and unable to think clearly.
Examples
“She was barely recognizable as the woman he once knew. The drugs had addled her mind to the point where she barely knew where she was, let alone who was talking to her.”
“The drug addict was clearly addled, as he continued to pass her the crumpled and stained parking ticket over the counter instead of a banknote.”
How it Adds Description
To describe the effect that the drugs a character is taking are having on their mind, consider describing them as being “addled”. This implies not only a sense of confusion but also a complete lack of mental awareness which can help to illustrate to your reader just how far gone they are, evoking a sense of sympathy for the character.
2. Crazed
Definition
Behaving wild or strangely, especially because of strong emotions or pain.
Examples
“After being turned away from the hostel, the crazed drug addict began a tirade of abuse, before clutching his head in his hands in anguish.”
“Having gone so long without his last fix, the drug addict became crazed, acting more like an animal than a human being in his withdrawal.”
How it Adds Description
Using the word “crazed” to describe a drug addict helps to demonstrate the way that the substances that they are using have changed their behavior. However, this term also reflects the emotional anguish experienced by the addict, who may be in desperate straits in your story and require help from others, even if their behavior might push them away.
3. Desperate
Definition
- Feeling hopeless and willing to do anything to change one’s current situation, including taking risks.
- Having a very great need of something.
Examples
“Towards the end, she became so desperate that to continue fuelling her addiction she would sell her body to anyone willing to pay.”
“The desperate addict searched frantically for their next fix, their trembling hands betraying the overwhelming craving that consumed them.”
How it Adds Description
The word “desperate” works in two ways when it is used to describe a drug addict in your story. Not only does it show how much they need the drugs they have an addiction to, but it also highlights the extreme need they have not only to acquire them but also to try to get themselves out of the situation they are in. The latter helps to encourage empathy and character investment from your reader, especially if the addict resorts to risky or dangerous behavior.
4. Despondent
Definition
Unhappy with no hope or enthusiasm that one’s current situation will improve.
Examples
“The despondent addict, with hollow eyes and a heavy heart, felt the weight of their addiction crushing their spirit, leaving them in a state of despair.”
“In the dimly lit room, the despondent drug addict sat alone, reflecting on the wreckage their addiction had wrought upon their life.”
How it Adds Description
“Despondent” helps to illustrate the low mental state that can come with an addiction. It helps to show the profound nature of the hopelessness that this character feels and helps to show to your reader that they have all but given up. Describing a character in this way can help to showcase a turning point in their narrative, as the only way left to go is up.
5. Erratic
Definition
Moving or behaving in a way that can’t be predicted and is not expected.
Examples
“The erratic drug addict’s behavior swung wildly from moments of frenzied euphoria to fits of unpredictable rage, leaving those around them on edge and unable to anticipate their next move.”
“The erratic drug addict’s life spiraled into chaos as they veered unpredictably between periods of reckless drug-fueled abandon and desperate attempts at sobriety.”
How it Adds Description
When you use the term “erratic” to describe a drug addict, it implies that their actions may seem to change abruptly or without apparent reason. The misuse of drugs can impair judgment and decision-making, meaning that other characters in your story will need to stay on their toes to try to keep them safe and also predict which way their mood or behavior will swing.
6. Fidgety
Definition
Making continuous, small movements that could annoy others.
Examples
“The fidgety way the customer was moving told the cashier that he was addicted to more than the cheap bottle of liquor he was trying to purchase.”
“The fidgety addict couldn’t sit still for even a moment, constantly tapping their foot and twirling a pen in their hand to satisfy their restless cravings.”
How it Adds Description
One word you can use to help to describe the small movements that a drug addict might make in your story is to refer to them as being “fidgety”. This helps to illustrate the involuntary physical movements that they may make due to withdrawal symptoms, or even as a result of the drugs that they are currently taking. Other characters may act negatively or show disdain for a “fidgety” character, especially if this behavior starts to get on their nerves during an interaction.
7. Hopeless
Definition
Examples
“The hopeless addict resigned themselves to a life on the street, their small corner of a store’s doorway the most permanent home they’d had.”
“The hopeless addict, consumed by their addiction, felt trapped in a never-ending cycle of despair and dependency.”
How it Adds Description
Describing a drug addict as “hopeless” can be a way to highlight their internal struggles and challenges. It suggests that they may have lost faith in themselves or their ability to change their circumstances. This can be a starting point for their character development and growth throughout the story and provide a juxtaposition to other more optimistic characters who may not be battling addiction.
8. Impressionable
Definition
Easily influenced by other people.
Examples
“Her impressionable nature had first led her to smoking with friends, but it had ended up leaving her with a crippling drug addiction that had stolen the best part of her teenage years.”
“The impressionable drug addict, easily swayed by peer pressure and the allure of escape, found themselves caught in a dangerous spiral of substance abuse.”
How it Adds Description
Using the word “impressionable” to describe a drug addict can help to show how vulnerable they can be. It helps to highlight that their choices have been shaped by others and may leave the reader wondering how they came to rely on such people in the first place. Additionally, especially for younger characters, it can signify the start of a coming-of-age in their character arc, as they fight to battle the addiction and become their own person in adulthood.
9. Resourceful
Definition
- Skilled at solving problems.
- Able to find different ways to achieve one’s goals.
Examples
“The drug addict always found resourceful ways in which to hide their addiction from their loved ones, with a network of hiding places for the substances they used dotted across their home.”
“The resourceful drug addict, despite their addiction, displayed a remarkable ability to find unconventional ways to obtain the substances they craved, showcasing a troubling ingenuity.”
How it Adds Description
The “resourceful” nature of a drug addict in your story can help to highlight their reaction to the dangerous world of addiction. It could be that at first this trait could be used to hide their substance abuse from others and seen as a negative aspect by the reader, but over the course of the narrative, this same resourcefulness could be what helps them to devise a plan to sobriety.
10. Struggling
Definition
Failing but trying hard to succeed.
Examples
“The struggling drug addict had been to rehab so many times that she couldn’t even count, but every time she left she would relapse in a heartbeat.”
“As if struggling with a drug addiction wasn’t enough, he also had to deal with all the bad luck life threw his way, too.”
How it Adds Description
Portraying a drug addict as “struggling” can be a starting point for character development. It allows the character to undergo a transformative journey, which can include moments of self-reflection, growth, and the potential for recovery. Not only that, but it can help readers develop empathy and understanding for individuals facing this issue, and be used to represent the struggles of society as a whole.