Addiction Stages

Multiple factors contribute to addiction, such as environmental influences, hereditary causes, emotional, behavioural patterns, socioeconomic status, and more. While different experts have proposed different categorisations of addiction stages, most agree on four main phases: experimentation, regular use, high-risk use, and addiction.

Many people never make it beyond stage one, and those who progress beyond stage 2 most likely end up developing an addiction. Following is the breakdown of the four stages of addiction to get you a rough idea of where you or your loved one stand in terms of developing this issue.

Stage One: Experimentation

Experimentation is the first addiction stage that may or may not lead to full-blown addiction. It is common and often encouraged in young people; however, it is essential to remember that experimentation is not always harmless. For a teen exhibiting risk factors for addiction, experimenting with alcohol or drugs can easily lead to a long-term substance use disorder.

In adults, experimentation occurs as they expand or change their social groups or join a new job with a new workplace culture that celebrates drug use. Irrespective of when or how you start experimenting, each case has to be seen individually. For example, if someone resorted to using drugs in a state of vulnerability, there is a high possibility that this use will continue and progress into a more severe problem. Similarly, if a drug positively helps someone, such as with social acceptance or stress relief, this positive reinforcement can also fuel addiction.

Stage Two: Regular/Social Use

This stage is comparable to a bifurcating road for a lot of people. Some of those who reach this point will keep engaging in regular substance use or activity without getting dependent on it. Nevertheless, they’ll still be at a high risk of developing addictive behaviours in the near future. Regular indulgence in drugs or alcohol also can result in high-risk behaviours, such as rash driving under the influence, depression, or emotional volatility.

Hence, it becomes crucial to watch for any changes in priorities, mood shifts, or early signs of addiction. Many people experience a withdrawal from friends and family and fail to limit their substance use during this stage. They may develop personal concerns or feel ashamed of their behaviour yet continue to engage in the addictive behaviour.

Stage Three: Risky Use/Abuse

The transition from stage two to three is relatively quick and often difficult to detect in others and yourself. During this stage, the addict prioritises their addictive behaviour and substance use over all other facets of life. They are not even afraid of the consequences that these habits may bring. Some warning signs linked with stage three of addiction include depression, fatigue, irritability, psychological and physical cravings, etc.

At this stage, repeated exposure to the offending substance forces some addicts to develop hypersensitisation. This biological phenomenon allows them to feel greater pleasure the next time they indulge in substance use. Hypersensitisation consequently leads to incentive salience, a psychological phenomenon that makes the drug a reward for the body, increasing its craving even more. The biological need for the substance and its psychological craving make it easier to develop dependence and, eventually, addiction.

Stage Four: Drug Addiction

As the final stage of addiction, its characteristics include continuous use of substances regardless of their side effects on mental and physical health, poor work performance, and possible involvement in criminal activity. Personal relationships are either stained or wholly lost, and if untreated, the addict quickly hits rock bottom with the loss of loved ones, near-death experiences, and possible arrests.

For most addicts, stage four of addiction includes an experience that they have never previously imagined when they first started experimenting with drugs. Even if they can identify their problem, they aren’t willing to seek help. At this stage, family support is crucial to help the addict recover.