Welcome to the world of recovery

Although it may feel like it from the perspective of the addicted individual, addiction doesn’t happen overnight. While many factors contribute to drug and alcohol addiction, including genetic and environmental influences, socioeconomic status, and preexisting mental health conditions, most professionals within the field of addiction agree that there are four main stages of addiction: experimentation, regular use, high-risk use, and addiction or dependency. Of course, not everyone in the first two stages of this process will develop a habit, but individuals within the third stage are incredibly likely to progress into full-blown addicts. Understanding these stages is critical in recognizing that you may have a problem and seeking help before your substance use transforms into an addiction.

Stage One: Experimentation

One of the trickiest aspects of addiction is recognizing that often the first samples of drugs or alcohol produce few or no adverse consequences. Experimentation, defined as the voluntary use of drugs without experiencing any negative social or legal matters, is often accepted or encouraged, particularly among young adults. Unfortunately, the person using the substance primarily views this instance of getting high or getting drunk as a one-time occurrence without recognizing that this opens the door to the downward spiral of addiction. The individuals who can stop using by themselves will do so, while those who believe substance use will continue to make them feel good or solve their problems will progress into the next stage of regular use.

Stage Two: Regular Use

Stage two represents a fork in the road for many people. While some people may be able to engage in the regular use of drugs or alcohol without developing an addiction, the risk for dependence dramatically increases during this stage, as does the risk of participating in high-risk behaviors, such as driving under the influence. The occasional drink or drug becomes common, like sleeping or brushing your teeth. Substance use becomes another part of the routine, and before you can step away from using, you’re fooled into a false sense of security that it will be easy to quit. During this stage, some people may develop guilt or shame for their behavior but will continue to justify it or make excuses.

Are You Ready to Change?

Stage Three: Abuse

The line between regular and high-risk use is fragile but usually defined as the continued use of drugs or alcohol despite severe social or legal consequences. What started as a temporary escape from reality now takes precedence over other facets of your life, and you become either unafraid or unaware of the results of your behavior. Cravings become unbearable and may drive you to do things you wouldn’t usually do to get your hands on more drugs or alcohol. You may also begin to justify dangerous behaviors, such as operating machinery while high or driving your kids to school while drunk, as necessary undertakings, and your work, relationships, and other obligations suffer as a result.

Stage Four: Addiction/Dependency

Once the final stage is reached, you have entered addiction and complete dependency upon the substance. It’s no longer a question of whether or not you’re addicted to drugs or alcohol. When you don’t receive them, your body lets you know in the form of symptoms like shakes, sweats, tremors, and other frantic behavior. You spend most of the time drunk or high, and you don’t want anything to stand in the way of it. This is the stage where you can’t, even if someone tells you that your life depends on stopping your behavior.

Fortunately, no matter which stage of addiction you’re in, help is available. Addiction is a progressive illness that only gets worse when left untreated. If you’re ready to admit that you have a problem and embark on recovery, speak to one of our compassionate counselors today about substance abuse recovery.

References:

Understanding the 4 Stages of Addiction | Phoenix House Florida | Substance Use Treatment in Tampa.

Understanding the 4 Stages of Addiction

Any form of addiction can indeed be a very long and tedious process for the individual to change behavior. However, some people with an addiction appear to recover quickly, almost immediately, from their addictions and seem to be able to live a functional life in society. In the world of addictions, there seem to be many forms of developing a habit and sustaining that addictive habit.

If we look at the world of sexual addiction, for example, many forms or types of addictions are developed in a particular way. “The concept of Behavior Building Blocks seems to be a common thread among sex addicts” (Laaser, 2004). These behavior building blocks appear to be routines people with an addiction use to feed their addictions. For example, one form of addiction is added to another form of addiction, which is added to another form of addiction, and so on. These patterns firmly hold onto the individual and may take years to break free. So, how do people with addictions change their behaviors?

Today, there are many support groups in the community that will help the individual change, if the change is desired. With any addiction such as alcohol, there are alcoholics anonymous (AA) and Gambling Anonymous (GA), and for those dealing with heavy drug use, there is Narcotics Anonymous (NA). There is also a spiritual faith-based 12-step recovery group called Celebrate Recovery. With so many available free resources in the community, what causes some people to reduce the amount of use or stop completely by reaching out for assistance, yet others do not have the same results? As stated in an earlier post, addiction is a disease, and it may not be that easy to ask for help.

Are You Ready to Change?

It would depend on the individual’s situation, living environment, amount of family support, mental and physical functioning, and willingness to change. The only requirement to be a member of Alcoholics Anonymous is having the desire to stop drinking. It has to be the person’s will and desire over the addiction to want to stop. Dealing with any behavior change is one way of changing behavior better than another. For example, some changes in behavior may require medication management, therapy, a life coach, partial hospitalization, or intensive outpatient treatment. So again, it may depend on what is needed at that time and where the person with an addiction is in the stages of change.

“When a person who is addicted to alcohol stops drinking without getting treatment, it is called natural recovery or a strength-based perspective” (Van Wormer & Davis, 2018). There also appear to be six themes of recovery with solid base therapy. These are identified as competent human beings, the need for personal control or choice, the need for hope, the need for purpose, the need for a sense of achievement, and the presence of at least one critical supportive person in their lives.

For these “ Behavioral Building Blocks” to be destroyed over some time in a person’s mind and to reduce addictive behaviors in the long term, a person must incorporate these six specific themes of recovery in their lives, especially the need for hope, need for purpose and a sense of achievement.

References:

Laaser, M. R. (2004). Healing the wounds of sexual addiction: Grand Rapids, MI

Van Wormer, K., and Davis, D.R. (2018) Addiction Treatment. New York

We, who struggle with addiction whether it’s chemical addiction or behavioral addiction such as gambling or sex addiction know the road to recovery can be long, frustrating, and a never-ending journey. However, the journey can begin today. That’s right. You can be free from your addiction at this very moment. The moment you decide in your mind you want to be free, you’re free. Yes, it’s that simple. However, the actual journey begins when actionable steps are incorporated such as putting up guard rails, implementing boundaries, having strong accountability, possessing a determination to change the negative behavioral patterns, and understanding the stages of change you can and will overcome any addictive behavior. Coming from a family of alcoholics and being a former alcoholic and substance user myself, I know it can be done.

But what are some of the determining factors of substance abuse use in America? “With just under 5% of the world’s population, the United States consumes around 60% of the illicit drugs produced on the earth” (Doweiko, 2015). That means 95% of the world’s population consumes only 40% of illegal drugs. America, we have a serious drug issue, and there seem to be multiple reasons why someone would use drugs like intense high school and college peer pressure, isolation, especially during this global pandemic, mental health issues like depression, PTSD, fear, and anxiety, growing up in a dysfunctional family environment and many other factors including criminal activity. Did you know the rate of alcohol-related deaths in the U.S. rose by 30% in the first year of COVID-19?

Are You Ready to Change?

Sadly to admit I can testify my own family has dealt with alcoholism. I have seen firsthand what alcohol has done to my father who died of lung cancer and liver damage due to alcohol and 40-plus years of smoking cigarettes. Also, I have a sibling who is currently in a rehab facility due to the abuse of alcoholism. I have heard countless stories of families being destroyed by drugs and alcohol. Drug addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder characterized by persistent drug-seeking and drug-taking behaviors (Feltenstein & See, 2008) mainly because drug addiction is also a disease. Yes, it is a disease and a sickness, and many are not willing to seek healing, therefore, leading to one of the significant causes of abuse and addiction.

References:                                    :                                                                   

Doweiko, H. E. (2015). Concepts of chemical dependency (9th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning

Feltenstein, M. W., & See, R. E. (2008). The neurocircuitry of addiction: an overview. British Journal of Pharmacology, 154(2), 261-274.