The factors contributing to drug use come from a wide array, including environmental influences, genetics, socio-economic status, and individual behavioral patterns. However, the whole process is broken down into five stages: experimentation, regular use, risky use, dependence, and addiction. Understanding such phases come in handy when you want to address the addiction issue in you or someone you care about. Follow through to understand what each of the stages entails and how best you can help anyone at the respective addiction levels.
The Experimentation Stage
Although the use of drugs at this level is not severe, someone who passes the experimentation stage is on their way to full-blown addiction. This will require them to get professional help later in life from experts. Read here https://impactrecoverycenter.net/ to understand the kind of help that an addict can get. The experimentation stage is common among young people. They experiment with different drugs as a way to have fun or solve a problem. Many do not desire to continue using the drug after this stage, but others continue to the subsequent addiction levels. If you or someone close to you is in this phase, be cautious about why they are experimenting, how much they are experimenting with, and how often they do it.
Regular Use
After experimenting and gaining interest in a particular drug or alcohol, the individual starts using it regularly. They end up integrating substance use into their daily lives. You may not recognize any abnormality at this level, especially if you are functioning as you would without the drug’s influence. During this stage, you may develop a habit of engaging in high-risk behaviors, such as Driving Under Influence (DUI) or Driving While Intoxicated (DWI). It is vital to watch out for any mood and behavioral changes or early physical addiction signs—for instance, social withdrawal and the inability to regulate the amount consumed.
Risky Use
At this stage, you or your loved one ignores all the social and legal consequences and continues to use the drugs. The transition from regular to risky use can happen very fast. It is in this addiction phase that warning signs of addiction become more conspicuous. Such symptoms may include cravings and depression, anxiety, irritability, and fatigue if the individual does not access the drug they require. Hyper sensitization is a common condition that arises as a result of lengthy exposure to drugs and alcohol. This implies that the body becomes more demanding of the drug, leading you or your loved one to take it repeatedly. At this point, you should seek appropriate help for yourself or your loved one before the problem gets out of hand.
Dependence
Once a drug user gets to this stage, they now need serious and intense medical and psychological help. At this level, the individual’s mind and body are reliant on the substance of their choice. The behavioral transformation at the dependency stage is evident and hazardous. The help you or your loved one gets at this stage should include viable substance abuse treatment options to help end the dependency.
Addiction
This is the stage when things have really escalated. The drug or alcohol user is at a point they never imagined when starting with the experimentation. At this time, the withdrawal symptoms become apparent. You also start using the drug impulsively without considering its effect on your relationship, criminal record, physical and mental health, job security, and personal finances. Support from friends and family is crucial at this phase, but it can be challenging and cause emotional torture.
Drug addiction is a process that follows a specific layout. It is divided into five stages, as discussed above. Each step has its consequences, but the emphasis lies on the third, fourth, and fifth levels of addiction. If you or your loved one goes beyond the experimentation stage, the best option would be to get help before the condition escalates.
