If you work with clients who live with substance use disorders (SUDs), understanding the stages of addiction can help you guide them on their path to recovery. In this article, we’ll explore what addiction is and what each stage of addiction looks like in order to help you better serve your clients.
What is addiction?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines addiction as:
“A chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use despite adverse consequences.”
People who suffer from addiction continue to use drugs and alcohol even in the face of job loss, family problems (such as divorce or child custody issues), or the threat of legal consequences, like jail.
The individual cannot simply stop their behavior just because it causes them, or their loved ones, harm. In fact, untreated compulsive drug use can lead to serious medical problems and even death by overdose, medical sequelae, accidents, and suicide.
According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, when viewed as a disease of the brain’s reward, motivation, and memory systems, addiction is characterized by:
- The inability to consistently abstain
- Impairment in behavioral control
- Cravings
- Diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships
- Dysfunctional emotional response
- Cycles of relapse and remission
Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.
The 4 stages of addiction
There are four stages of addiction. Some people stay in one stage, such as regular use, indefinitely without ever developing an addiction. Others go from 0-to-60 in a very short amount of time, and move from experimentation to full addiction.
Experimentation
In this stage, the individual is trying drugs for the first time. They may be trying one drug or experimenting with multiple kinds of drugs during this phase. Use is not regular and for many individuals, use ends in this stage.
Regular use
In this stage of drug use, the individual has moved beyond experimenting and is now using the drug or drugs, on a regular basis. The individual still is able to stop using the drug on their own; however, they may begin engaging in risky behaviors, such as driving under the influence.
Abuse
Also characterized as mild to moderate drug use disorder, there is often a thin line between this stage and the “regular use” stage, the stage usually is defined as abuse when the person continues to use the drug despite severe social and legal consequences.
Addiction
In addition to the behavior displayed in the abuse stage, individuals using substances also may develop physical and emotional dependence on drugs and can begin to show withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to stop taking a specific drug. As such, this stage is where individuals develop severe drug user disorder. Use at this stage is pathologically compulsive, and the individual is unable to stop on their own, despite the mounting problematic consequences associated with their drug use.
Behavioral Health Crisis Management Training Report
The United States is at a critical juncture in responding to behavioral health crises, with opioid usage and suicide rates at all-time highs, making high-quality care essential. Effective crisis management depends on the training your staff receives, underscoring the need for strategic planning.
Our 2024 Behavioral Health Crisis Management Training Report, featuring responses from nearly 9,000 behavioral health providers across the United States, uncovers significant industry trends.
Behavioral health leaders can use this data to inform their organization’s learning and development programs. By leveraging these insights, organizations can enhance their staff’s ability to mitigate crisis situations effectively through comprehensive crisis management training.
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