Stages of Addiction

Addiction is a complicated, multifaceted disease. It can be difficult for loved ones of an addict to understand where and why addiction starts. Gaining a baseline knowledge of the various stages of addiction can be helpful in setting expectations for both an addict and the people who care about them.

What is Addiction?

Addiction is a disease that affects millions of Americans each year. According a report by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 19.7 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battled a substance use disorder in 2017.

Defined by the American Psychiatric Association, “addiction is a complex condition, a brain disease that is manifested by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequence.” Even when faced with the life-threatening repercussions of their abuse, it is impossible for an addict to stop. Addiction can affect every aspect of a person’s life: their relationships, work, mental and physical health, financial security, and in extreme cases, even lead to death.

There are 4 main stages of addiction that people can fall into. Not every person in the first or second stage becomes an addict, but individuals who reach the 3rd stage, which is risky and problematic use, have a high chance of developing a substance abuse disorder.

What are the 4 Stages of Addiction?

Stage 1: First Use/Experimentation

The first stage of addiction is heavily influenced by environmental factors and access to drugs, alcohol, or other substances. Drug experimentation is defined as voluntary use of drugs or alcohol, without experiencing any negative social or legal implications.

There are a handful of reasons people may begin to experiment with substances, whether it be to “fit in” with the crowd, to deal with a problem, or just out of curiosity. It is possible to experiment with drugs and not develop an addiction, although it may lead one down the wrong path.

Stage 2: Regular Use

In this stage, drug use starts to become a pattern and warning signs of addiction may begin to appear. Sometimes use may occur only at certain times, for example only on weekends, but substance use will start to become a habit.

Even if an individual is a social user, and only will use drugs or other substances when out with friends, they are developing a pattern that can later become an addiction.

Stage 3: Risky and Problematic Use

As regular use increases, an individual may begin to display extremely dangerous behaviors, such as driving under the influence. Although there is a thin line between regular use (stage 2) and risky use (stage 3), in stage 3 an individual will continue to engage in substance use even when faced with social or legal consequences.

Also, in this stage, the signs of addiction will be evident as the user will likely experience cravings and possible withdrawal symptoms such as depression, irritability, and fatigue if they are not using the drug and people may start to let substances negatively affect their relationships.

Stage 4: Dependence and Addition

As use continues, addiction and dependence will develop. Once an individual is addicted, the substance has chemically altered their brain and the brain will struggle to function without it. With this physical dependence, addicts will experience withdrawal symptoms and compulsive desire to use drugs or alcohol despite severe negative consequences to their relationships, physical and mental health, personal finances, job security, and criminal record. Because of the effects of drugs and alcohol on the brain, it is seemingly impossible for an individual to quit despite all of these implications.

In the old edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, there were two separate categories of addition: substance abuse and substance dependence. In the fifth and most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), these two categories are now combined into “substance use disorder.”

These substance abuse disorders are “patterns of symptoms resulting from the use of a substance that you continue to take, despite experiencing problems as a result.” In this final stage, substance abuse disorder has seemingly taken over the addict’s life.

Treatment for Addiction

Regardless of the stage of addiction someone may be in, it is so important to seek help before it is too late. If you are struggling with addiction, you are not alone. In order to prevent more harm, there are many treatment options available that have been proven successful.

Do you fear a loved one is in stage 3 of addiction? If so, we are here for you and we are here to help.