In 2020, 40.3 percent of Americans aged 12 and up had a substance use disorder, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The stages of addiction cycle are the same starting over from experimentation to ultimate addiction. Despite addiction being a disease, many people are shocked by how common it is to take drugs in a practical manner. There are several stages of addiction which are changes you bring to your life and start with initial use. Young people frequently experiment with drugs and alcohol. When you get addicted it gets pivotal to seek treatment from drug and alcohol rehab. Additionally, this is typically the extent of a person’s use of alcohol or drugs. However, for some people, this ostensibly straightforward beginning could be the beginning of a fatal addiction.
The person’s age and the medications they are taking greatly impact this. For instance, although studies have indicated that consuming alcohol before age 16 is risky. Sharing a drink or two with friends is so common that it may not always show a substance misuse issue. However, a 12-year-old who tries opioids is much more likely to become addicted to them.
Experimentation
Furthermore, the reasons why people use alcohol and drugs may have an impact on the level of risk during this stage of addiction. People occasionally experiment with new things, like alcohol and drugs, when they want to have an excellent time with their friends.
However, the risk can be increased if someone uses drugs or alcohol to deal with stress or a mental health issue. As a result, they could feel tempted to use drugs more frequently, which might trigger the next stage of their addiction. Starting from the first time leads to the first stage of addiction, and peer pressure could be one of the reasons.
Regular Use
A case can be made for stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. Millions of people have experimented with illegal narcotics at some point in their lives without becoming addicted. One of the critical differences between those individuals is how they progress from infrequent to chronic use.
A person enters Stage 2 of the Addiction Cycle as soon as they start using drugs or alcohol regularly. Because many persons who use substances regularly are high functioning, it could be challenging to identify regular use from the outside. When a person frequently consumes a substance, but it is not yet negatively affecting their ability to function in day-to-day life, they are at this stage of the addiction cycle.
Substance Abuse
They are passed their initial drug or alcohol experimentation at this stage in their addiction. Even if they utilize it often now, they don’t do it frequently enough to be considered addicted. The vast majority of adults remain in this state for the entirety of their lives, never developing full-fledged addiction. Even moderate alcohol intake carries some risks, but they are nothing compared to the dangers of addiction in its latter stages.
When a person’s use of alcohol or drugs has taken center stage in their lives, it is said that they are substantially dependent. They might spend a lot of time using or daydreaming about using, prioritizing it over other, more significant activities.
Mental and Physical Dependence
Risk of contracting an illness as a result of withdrawal symptoms. The whole quality of life reduces by alcoholism or drug addiction, and mental health frequently suffers at this stage. Having problems maintaining stable employment can impact one’s finances, health, relationships, and mental health.
At this point in the addiction process, quitting abruptly may seem impossible. Many individuals who have attempted to quit had intense cravings that could seriously hinder their ability to maintain sobriety. Additionally, many people have centered their life around substance misuse by this stage of their addiction, so many of their friends are likely to indulge and are unable to support them as they start their recovery.
Disorders linked to Substance Abuse (SUDs), such as alcohol addiction, worsens over time when tolerance develops. A person this far along in their addiction cannot go a day without drinking or using. People may lose close relatives, their employment, or even their houses. The longer a person battles addiction, the more overwhelming it can seem but with the right medical professionals.
Addiction
The fifth and final stage of addiction is when a person reaches the point where they need their preferred drug to get through the day. This person’s only concern right now is using their substance to get high. In stage five of the addiction cycle, a person will put their addiction ahead of everything else, including their work, family, and even their ability to eat.
Alcohol or drug addiction is always the result of frequent, long-term use. Addiction can range from moderate to severe depending on the drug and its misuse. Everyone is at risk of addiction, while some people may be more susceptible than others due to various factors.
Triggers
The optimum way to deal with such a situation is to prevent an addiction cycle from recurring; you have to change practices to eliminate negative affect.
It is also advisable to avoid persons and situations that could tempt you to return to drug abuse. Regular drug or alcohol users are unlikely to assist you in maintaining your abstinence. Going to a bar after work is another undesirable practice to break. Even if your intention is to drink only water, you may feel vulnerable around individuals who are drinking and, as a result, appear to be enjoying themselves more. The substance use disorders are linked with mental health issues and a dual diagnosis or mental health treatment is intrinsic.
By receiving therapy for your addiction, you will be able to break the cycle of addiction and learn new ways to respond to emotional triggers. As you become more aware of your addiction cycle and what motivates you to use it, you may better prepare yourself for these feelings and devise a plan to help you remain sober instead of locked in the addictive cycle.
Behaviors
You can break the cycle of addiction by substituting activities for the triggers that drive you back down the path of addiction. You can interrupt the cycle of addiction by doing the following steps, as changing behaviors can speed up the process to the utmost level. Leave those behind who encourage you to get into addiction and tend to be an enabler of such devastation for your life.
- Mindfulness can reduce your stress levels. Yoga, meditation, and other practices can facilitate a connection with one’s emotions and thoughts.
- Engage in a hobby. Engaging in a pastime such as gardening, woodworking, writing, or photography can divert your attention away from addictive behavior and into a productive, artistic pursuit.
- Establish an accepting network of family and friends. Ensure that you are accountable for not utilizing drugs.
- Consult a trained therapist and attend counseling and addiction treatment sessions as needed in order to stay on track.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four stages of the cycle of addiction?
The genetic and environmental factors of mental health conditions, physical dependence, and tolerance can be some of the reasons that lead to the addiction cycle.
What is the first stage in the cycle of addiction?
From experimentation to initial use, you can get into addiction stages, as these are some of the triggers that lead to an addiction problem.
Haven Can Help You Recover from Addiction
The Haven Detox-New England is here to help you recover from substance abuse disorder. From our alcohol detoxification to residential treatment, our experts tackle it in the right order.
We have been providing Methadone assisted treatment programs to bring on a smooth recovery and take you on the path of recovery. Our dual diagnosis plan can help you with recovery as we have the best medical staff that helps you to get back to life.
Feel free to call us by dialing (844) 933-4145.
