What Are the Stages of a Drug Addiction?

A substance use disorder isn’t something you planned on developing. However, you can’t say that you didn’t see it coming either. There are stages of drug addiction. In retrospect, they’re quite clear.

Do you want to learn more about drug and alcohol addiction? If so, call us today at 866.605.0532.

Trying Something New

Many don’t realize that the stages of drug addiction start with something as innocent as trying something new. A friend hands you a drink. You don’t know at the time that it’s lean. You find that out later.

Someone else shows you how to snort a line or take a hit of something. You’re at a party, and someone’s handing out pills. Similarly, you read about taking pain pills in different ways for a high and decide to try it. Florida drug rehab center therapists know that it doesn’t matter how you started, but there was an entry point.

Three Subsequent Stages of Drug Addiction End in Dependency

Next, you participate in the new habit more frequently. You hang out more with the people who do the drug you like. Besides that, you ask where you can buy some. Because you can’t always wait for others to invite you, you start buying your own supply.

The second behavior is the shift from recreational to regular use. What used to be a once-a-week habit now happens much more often. You might find yourself drinking every night now. This action leads seamlessly into the third stage–tolerance.

The next of the stages of drug addiction is your body develops a tolerance to the drug. Therefore, you have to use more to feel the same effect. One morning, you wake up to withdrawal symptoms. Dependency is now part of your life.

Detox and Rehab Provide the Necessary Turning Point

You learned about the entry point. Now, you want to make a change in your life. It’s time to look for a turning point. That’s where detox and subsequent rehab come in.

You work with therapists who understand the stages of drug addiction and your desire to quit using. They meet you where you’re at. It starts with detox, which lets you withdraw safely from the drug. The goal is to ensure that it’ll be a pain-free experience for you.

The second step is rehab. Therapists customize a care protocol for you. Furthermore, they help you heal through individual and group activities. Examples include:

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy helps an individual work through their substance abuse issues. It can help them learn how to make better decisions, develop healthier coping strategies, and practice self-care techniques. In addition, it can provide support and guidance as individuals transition into recovery from substance use disorder. This type of therapy can help an individual identify and work through underlying issues that contribute to their addiction, such as depression, trauma, or stress.

Group Therapy

Group therapy involves a group of individuals who are all dealing with or have dealt with substance use disorder. This type of therapy helps members learn new coping strategies, build support networks, and work through underlying issues related to their addiction. It can also provide accountability and feedback from peers who understand what they are going through.

Family Therapy

Family therapy is centered around helping the entire family cope with and understand their loved one’s substance use disorder. It can help identify the roles each family member plays in the individual’s recovery, as well as explore communication styles to enhance relationships. Family therapy also helps members learn how to better support their loved one and provide healthy boundaries.

Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy is about changing an individual’s behavior and beliefs related to their substance use. It can help them learn how to recognize triggers, create healthier coping strategies, build life skills, and develop the motivation to stay in recovery.

Trauma Therapy

Trauma therapy for addiction addresses traumatic experiences in an individual’s life. It can help them process and release any unresolved emotions related to past trauma, as well as learn how to build healthy coping strategies and regulate their emotions. Trauma therapy gives people the opportunity to gain insight into their behavior and understand how past events have impacted their current relationship with substance use.

Recovery is a Phone Call Away

You went through the stages of drug addiction with remarkable ease. It seemed like an almost natural progression. In contrast, making a change appears to be more labor-intensive. Beaches Recovery wants to make it easy with just one call to 866.605.0532 today.