Cookouts, pool parties, and summer vacations with the family are just some of the enjoyable things that may be done during this season. The phases of a drug or alcohol addiction in yourself, a friend, or a loved one may be the last thing on your mind when it comes to keeping an eye out for warning signs. In point of fact, the happenings of summer might serve as a convenient cover for an addiction issue. Because of this, it is essential for you to educate yourself on the many phases of addiction through Orange County rehab so that you are able to determine whether an addiction to alcohol or drugs is beginning to develop.
There are 5 stages of addiction.
The following are the five phases of addiction to alcohol and drugs that you should watch out for:
- Experimentation.
It may be difficult to recognise the symptoms of this stage of addiction to alcohol or drugs, particularly if a loved one is experimenting with a substance for the first time. You could have a hard time determining whether or not this trial usage will lead to anything more serious in the future. If someone you care about is experimenting with alcohol or drugs, you should pay close attention to the motivations behind their behaviour, the quantities of substances they are trying out, and the frequency with which they try out new substances.
- Regular usage.
At this point, people will have integrated their drug misuse into their regular routines to the point that it is no longer noticeable. This may be difficult to notice for some people, particularly if they are still “functioning” in their daily usage of the product. During this time, you should be able to begin to see whether or not their consistent usage is gradually becoming troublesome, as well as whether or not they go through phases in which they use, then go through phases in which they stop using, and then use again.
- Risky usage.
Determining what constitutes dangerous usage may be challenging, particularly given the fact that one person’s idea of what constitutes risky use may differ from that of another. On the other hand, if a person continues to use, you will see substantial changes in their conduct, which would most likely scare you. At this point, you should make it a priority to find methods to assist them in receiving treatment for their dangerous use of substances before the situation becomes much worse.
- Dependence.
When a person has reached the point where they are dependent on their substance(s) of choice, the individual’s body and mind are both dependent on the drugs. During this stage, the use of a substance by a loved one will result in significant behavioural changes that are both noticeable and potentially harmful. At this time, the most helpful thing you can do for a loved one is to assist them in overcoming their reliance on substances by presenting them with various treatment choices for drug misuse.
- Addiction.
Abuse of drugs over a long period of time will inevitably result in dependency on at least one of those substances, particularly as all phases advance. When an addiction to alcohol or drugs has developed to the point that aid is needed, the only solution is to modify the behaviours that surround the misuse, which can only occur by receiving treatment from a qualified addiction specialist.
Bringing an End to the Cycle
Before recognising that addiction is an issue, a person may try to quit taking a drug on several occasions before finally succeeding. Getting professional therapy that is supported by studies demonstrating its potential to assist is one way to break the cycle of addiction, abstinence, and relapse when an addiction has been identified. This is one way to break the cycle of addiction, abstinence, and relapse.
The individual may be encouraged to acquire techniques for managing this chronic, reoccurring problem via the use of a variety of approaches, including as cognitive and behavioural therapy, the support of peer groups, and other physical and mental health treatments. The same medicines and therapies that are used to treat asthma and diabetes are also used in addiction therapy, and these treatments are aimed to assist the individual learn how to manage a chronic substance use disorder and lower the probability that they will relapse and start using drugs again.