At what point does someone become addicted? Quite often, addiction is not immediate and instead happens over time in stages. This post explores the 7 stages that most addicts go through to help you understand when substance use becomes substance abuse.
Initiation
This is the first time in which someone tries a certain substance – whether it be alcohol or cocaine. This could be the result of peer pressure or curiosity. Some people try a substance and will never try it again afterwards. However, this is not the case with most people.
Habit
Some people may only do a substance once every few months or even every few years. However, for others it can become more regular than this – often turning into a habit associated with a certain place, certain people or a certain time of the week. Habitual use isn’t necessarily addiction, but it is where things can start to become dangerous.
Problem
A habit can become a problem when it starts to have negative effects. Perhaps you’re spending too much money on drugs, and it's starting to negatively affect your finances. Perhaps you’ve started to do embarrassing things while drunk, or you are neglecting responsibilities. This is a turning point in the addiction process when it starts to become unhealthy.
Adjustment
At some point, most people will try to make adjustments. This may include trying to quit substances, having regular dry periods, or sticking to a limit when it comes to drinks. Some people are successful at sticking to these adjustments, but the support of others is often necessary.
Relapse
Many people are unable to stick to the boundaries that they set and eventually relapse – once again turning the habit into a problem. This is often the result of peer pressure from others or temptations that are too hard to resist. In other cases, physical withdrawal symptoms may play a part. Preventing a relapse requires a lot of discipline, as well as finding ways to substitute the addiction with something healthy in order to avoid boredom (or even depression).
Dependence
Some people will get into a cycle of cutting back and relapsing. Others will relapse and not make any attempts to try again. In both cases, this is a sign that an addiction has turned into a dependence. You no longer have control over your substance use, and it has turned into substance abuse.
Spiral/recovery
At this stage, there are only two ways in which it can progress. The addiction can continue to spiral into an even worse problem that is more destructive in the long run – or you can get help and make a recovery. Rehabilitation services like BIG SKY treatment could be worth looking into to help you recover. Alternatively, you could join a support group. In most cases, the support of others is necessary to beat addiction.
But for those facing legal consequences due to their substance use, especially involving serious federal charges, it may also be crucial to consult with the best federal drug lawyer you can find. Just generally speaking, having the right legal advocate can make a major difference in navigating the justice system and getting access to the support you need.
Conclusion
Addiction rarely happens overnight, and most people gradually develop a dependence. It is important to know where you stand so that you can take the right steps to prevent substance use from progressing into an unhealthy downward spiral.
