Stages of Addiction
Understanding the stages of addiction can help you avoid the cycle and help a friend or family member overcome addiction. Addiction is a progressive disease, it is not an all-in or all-out process. Red Willow understands that progression stages play a role in your treatment. It is possible to seek treatment even before you are dependent on the substances.
Oftentimes, the signs of addiction can be hard to spot at first but as someone progresses through the stages, the dependability on the substance will take priority over anything else. Each stage will require a different level of support and care. Below is more about the stages of addiction and how our counselors can help.
1- Abstinence
This is the very beginning where every person starts. Abstinence refers to not using any substances whatsoever. People can stay in the abstinence stage or move between abstinence and experimentation without becoming addicted or needing outside remediation.
2- Experimentation
This stage involves testing the waters with substances or alcohol for the first time or for the first time after a past struggle. Experimentation can be impulsive or controlled, for pleasure or a way to cope with stress. Only the user will really know if they need to seek help during this stage.
3- Recreational use
Moving into recreational use usually means you are using socially or on occasion. At Red Willow, we define this as use without a pattern and at a low frequency. Some people may go through phases of more use and some of no use at all.
During this stage though, many people start to build up a tolerance to the effects of the substances or acts. This makes people less receptive to possible consequences.
4- Consistent use
As you progress through the stages of addiction, the time spent using or thinking about substances increases. Consistent use often means using around 3 times a week with patterned use.
Red Willow looks at patterns that you may be developing and works to determine what may trigger you to use them more frequently. Patterns can look like using on the same days every week, with the same people, or after certain stressful activities. Quitting or thinking about quitting becomes much harder at this stage.
5- Mis-use
Misuse and Abuse stages tend to get confused and mixed together. Misuse is when your use starts to cross over certain areas of your life. Financial, health, or recreational lines are some that start to get unclear during this stage of addiction.
People may start to hide their use or make more risky choices that can affect their daily life. If you are looking to help someone who may be making their way toward addiction, your version of risk may be different from the one you are trying to help. Looking at what is normal or has been normal for them in the past may help you determine when to intervene.
6- Abuse
During the stage of abuse, people will start to cross over boundaries more often. The stages of addiction vary on the frequency of substance use. The abuse stage consists of using more than the average person and more frequently. It is important to encourage loved ones to get help at this stage.
Red Willow Counseling And Recovery has multiple methods to help those in all stages of addiction. We work with your goals and how you handle stress in order to form a treatment plan that is unique to your needs.
7- Dependence
Physical or psychological dependence on a substance or act happens in the dependence stage. The addiction starts to take shape and changes the behavior of the user.
This is also where withdrawal symptoms will come in and it will be hard for the addicted individual to quit on their own. The efforts to try and stop will seem almost impossible when you are in this stage.
How To Help Someone Struggling With Addiction
- Don’t preach or lecture the addict
- Offer support but don’t enable
- Seek counseling for yourself
- Learn more about mental health and addiction from reputable sources
- Provide different options for support (groups, churches, counselors, or outpatient options)
- Don’t put too many expectations on the addict
If you or a friend is struggling with addiction, reach out to our experts at Red Willow Counseling And Recovery.
