The 8 Stages of Addiction—Know the Signs

This stage is solidified by the moment an individual tries an addictive substance for the first time, often occurring in adolescence or young adulthood. Addiction is contingent on introduction or initiation, not defined by it. These first two stages are not absolute in leading to substance abuse—instead, they are behaviors to be aware of and monitor.

The decision to try a substance for the first time usually isn’t random. A few reasons an individual may be predisposed to drugs include the availability of the substance, peer usage and/or pressure, family history, and mental health conditions.

An individual’s experience could stop at this stage and never proceed any closer to addiction. But many will continue their substance use until simply using is no longer enough.

At this stage, substance use has become habitual and is likely being incorporated into the user’s daily life. Normalizing the use of a substance may seem like definitive addiction, but there is still a lack of dependency at this juncture.

Individuals are still actively choosing substance use and incorporating it into a routine. Substance use may be affecting the user's daily life, experiencing some of the negative consequences previously unseen in the experimentation phase. Showing up to work hungover or still under the influence is not uncommon at this stage.

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Tolerance

Additionally, building tolerance is instrumental in building regular use into high-risk use. Once a person’s substance use has become habitual, their body will build up a tolerance and it will take more and more of the drug to achieve the previous desired effects. This builds a sense of desperation to reach that same feeling of euphoria so much so that it becomes dependence.

Reliance on substance abuse is now impossible to ignore. By this stage, the user has developed a tolerance and dependence on their chosen substance(s) and likely cannot go more than a day or even a couple of hours without it. Microdosing throughout the day to maintain a high is common.

Binging

It would be irresponsible to exclude binging in this stage despite its adjacency to traditional addiction. An example of binging would be to abstain from a substance during the work week and then overindulge on the weekend. The standard measure of binging for alcohol is 4 or more drinks in a row on more than one occasion in a two-week span. This behavior could easily result in addiction even though it doesn’t follow the normal pattern outlined in these stages.

This stage represents the breaking point in a user’s life. Their addiction has become so unmanageable it results in an overdose, death, or other life-altering consequence. A crisis means an individual is at constant risk of a traumatic or fatal life event. But it can also be a wake-up call. Being hospitalized for addiction often forces people to take a closer look at the severity of their situation and realize that change is needed. That’s where intervention comes in. Users may seek out intervention or it could be offered to them by friends, family, or a trained professional.

Treatment

Most addiction treatment comes in the form of drug rehab and detox facilities such as Briarwood Detox Center. Addiction doesn’t have to be the end and Briarwood offers the tools needed to overcome substance abuse. If you identified with any of the stages listed either for yourself or someone close to you, please reach out to us at (866) 710-7710 for more information on how we can help.