The 7 Stages of Addiction

How Addiction Develops

Any person that has never struggled with alcohol or drug addiction may not understand how substance abuse develops. The reality is that it’s not something that develops overnight. Instead, substance abuse is something that develops in different stages. Before you begin your treatment program, it’s important that you and your loved ones understand the different stages of addiction as this is something that will help you and your family members as you take steps toward overcoming your drug and alcohol addiction. 

The Stages of Addiction

Are you ready to learn more about the different stages of addiction? Here is the important information that you need when it comes to substance abuse: 

1 – Initiation

A person doesn’t just simply decide that he or she is going to develop a drug or alcohol addiction. The first stage of any type of chemical dependency revolves around initiation. This is something that can come at any time in your life. In some cases, a close friend or family member develops an addiction which leaves another friend or family member exposed to that addiction. By having the exposure, a person will develop a curiosity about a substance of choice which leads to the second stage of addiction. 

2 – Experimentation

The second stage of chemical dependency is experimentation. This is a stage where alcohol or drug dependency hasn’t quite developed, however, a person is starting to show signs of addictive qualities as they begin to experiment and try certain substances. It’s important to remember that the substance of choice for a person could be highly addictive so there is a strong possibility that a person may not go through a long experimentation phase before their physical dependency on the substance begins to take hold. 

3 – Regular Use

After the experimentation phase, a person will begin to resort to regular use. Regular use can look different for every person. For example, if a person is a weekend binge drinker, they may only regularly consume alcohol on the weekend in large quantities but not touch the substance during the week.

4 – Risky or Problem Use

As you begin to regularly use your substance of choice, you will come to find that you may begin to participate in activities that you wouldn’t normally engage in during the time that you’re sober. For example, drinking or using drugs and driving, or putting yourself in precarious or potentially fatal conditions is a clear sign that a person may be struggling with a substance abuse issue and needs help sooner rather than later. 

5 – Dependence

When you begin to regularly use their substance of choice, the very chemistry of your body begins to change. In time, their body will begin to physically crave the drug because of the chemical dependence that has developed. If they do not consume their substance of choice, they may begin to experience withdrawal symptoms which could be potentially deadly. 

6 – Substance Use Disorder

Once a person has developed a dependence on a substance, they are diagnosed as having a substance use disorder. At this point, it’s imperative that they reach out for addiction treatment. An important aspect of this is finding an addiction treatment program that gets you the help that you need during this critical stage of your life. 

7 – Addiction Treatment

The only way to break the cycle of addiction once and for all is to commit to an addiction treatment program. Any top-rated treatment facility will give you the opportunity to participate in an individualized treatment plan that will help you to accomplish the goals that you have for yourself and your physical and mental wellbeing. There are many people who feel more comfortable committing to a residential treatment program. The reason for this is that they recognize that in order to truly tackle their substance use disorders, they have to change the people, places, and things around them. Residential treatment provides you with the safe and protected environment that you need as you begin to work through the ins and outs of your addiction. You will be continuously surrounded by a team of trained addiction experts who will be able to provide you with the tools and the reassurance that you need during this period of time. Not only that but you will also be surrounded by other people who are working through their own recovery programs which you will be able to turn to for support when needed. 

If you’re unable to commit to residential treatment for any reason, this doesn’t mean that your chemical dependency cannot be addressed. Instead of residential treatment, you can opt to commit to an outpatient program. Outpatient rehab is less restrictive in comparison to an inpatient rehab program which makes it an ideal option for a person that needs drug addiction treatment but also has work or school responsibilities. There are many people who commit to an outpatient rehab simply because they don’t feel comfortable committing to residential treatment. Regardless of your reason for working through an intensive outpatient program or a general outpatient treatment program, you will work closely with your addiction treatment team so that you can take full advantage of the addiction recovery programs that are available to you. 

Why Choose Resurgence for Alcohol and Drug Rehab

If you’re struggling with alcohol addiction or drug addiction and you’re ready to make the changes in your life to address this addiction, Resurgence Behavioral Health is here and ready to help you. As one of the top rehab centers in the area, we provide you with the personalized level of care that you need if you’re struggling with addiction. Before you can begin an addiction treatment program, however, it’s possible that you may need to go through a series of detox treatments. The reason for this is that in order for you to be able to completely commit to overcoming abuse and mental health issues, you will need to work through the withdrawal symptoms that come with severe addiction. In most cases, detox treatments will last approximately seven days with the worst of your withdrawal symptoms developing in the first 72 hours. However, after this period of time, you will be able to take full advantage of treatment places for substance use disorders. 

One of the other reasons why so many people make the decision to work with the Resurgence team is the type of addiction therapies that we offer. We pride ourselves on being on the cutting edge of all of the latest addiction treatment techniques which provides you with the benefit of knowing that you’re getting the highest level of care. Although it’s true that addiction therapy is something that can be uncomfortable or even awkward at times. At Resurgence, we offer several different types of addiction therapies that will help you to tackle your addiction once and for all. Here are some examples: 

Family Therapy 

If you have experienced issues with your relationship with your family members as a result of your addiction, you may come to find that family therapy is something that can improve the relationship that you have with these individuals. Family therapy is something that will happen only when you come to a place in your treatment where you’re ready to focus on it. However, if you can be reunited with your family again, you may find that this connection can provide you with support to continue on in your recovery. 

Group Therapy 

One of the biggest sources of support that you will experience during the course of your recovery will actually come from others who are working through their own treatment program. Group therapy gives you the opportunity to listen to others regarding their own experiences with addiction and also allows you to share what you’ve been through. You will undoubtedly notice that there are many similarities between their story and yours. 

There are several other forms of addiction therapy that you will experience during the course of your recovery. Individual therapy, for example, will give you the chance to interact with your treatment team in a one-to-one setting while trauma therapy will help you address the traumas in your life that may have contributed to your addiction. When you decide to work with the Resurgence team, you can rest assured that you will receive the personalized attention that you need through each one of these different addiction therapies. Our approach will help you to feel comfortable and confident through each element of your treatment program and help you to make the most out of your time with us regardless of whether you’re an inpatient or outpatient care. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the stages of addiction, drug or alcohol detox or you’re ready to commit to the admission process, the Resurgence intake team is here to help you. Get in touch with us today at (855) 458-0050 to learn more about the stage of drug addiction and how you can overcome your drug abuse once and for all. 

Learn about the 7 stages of addiction and learn how you can get help today at Resurgence Behavioral Health! #stagesofaddiction #addictiontreatment #gethelphttps://t.co/AXsfhgJjrY

— Resurgence Behavioral Health (@RBHRecovery) May 10, 2022

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

Research | Editorial