Understanding the stages of addiction can help you if you’ve been struggling with a substance abuse disorder. When you can see the path to addiction, it’s often easier to also know how you can get off track.
The Stages of Addiction
The following is a list of the seven critical stages of addiction:
#1 – Initiating
Initiating drug use happens with the first drink or the first hit. This might occur because someone offered the drugs or drink to you. But it might also be because you sought it out or because you received a prescription medication that was addictive.
#2 – Experimenting
Experimenting usually involves taking the drugs a few more times. This happens because you try to achieve the same high that you reached when you initiated.
#3 – Using Regularly
Regular use is using the drugs at least once every few days. However, it’s important to note that frequent use doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t hide it from friends and family. Many individuals use drugs or alcohol regularly without anyone knowing about it. Furthermore, many people can hold down jobs and attend to daily responsibilities. However, this usually doesn’t last long.
#4 – Risky Using
Risky using occurs when you experience negative legal, relationship or financial consequences because of drug use. Any dangerous behavior also counts.
#5 – Physical Dependence
There are different types of dependence on drugs. First, there is tolerance. This means that you need an additional amount of the drug to feel normal or achieve a high. Next, there is physical dependence and psychological dependence. Physical dependence means that you will experience withdrawal if you stop taking the drug. Psychologic dependence has to do with extreme drug cravings that are also mental and emotional.
#6 – Substance Abuse
When you can no longer live your life without drugs or alcohol, a substance abuse disorder has set in. At this point, you lie about your drug use, you avoid family and friends, and you have adverse health consequences. You need to seek professional help.
#7 – Detox
Finally, the last of the stages of addiction is inpatient detox treatment. This is the final stage because it means the end of addiction for good. Only detox can end addiction because it physically releases you from your drugs of choice.
At Serenity House Detox & Recovery, we provide detox services that are comforting and medically supervised. Our specialists will monitor your health signs and stability and ensure your comfort throughout withdrawal. Our services include the following:
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Family therapy
- Men’s detox program
- Women’s detox program
- Inpatient drug detox
Many people think that once they get on one path, it’s nearly impossible to get off. Fortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Even if you’ve been struggling with substance abuse for some time now, there is still hope. It doesn’t mean that you have to continue struggling.
Talk to one of the addiction specialists at Serenity House Detox & Recovery today to learn how you can recover from addiction. It’s not too late to find hope for what you’re battling. Call us today at 866-294-5306.
