What are the Four Levels of Addiction?
Updated: Mar 6, 2023
There are four major agreed-upon levels of addiction. It is crucial to understand these different levels so that one may recognize if there is a problem and seek proper treatment before substance use turns into an addiction.
By: Eunice Ahn
There are many different factors that may contribute to addiction including genetic, environmental, socioeconomic, and/or mental health influences. Regardless, the four levels of addiction are experimentation, regular use, high-risk use, and addiction.
Stage One: Experimentation
Experimentation is defined as voluntarily using drugs or drinking alcohol without experiencing any type of negative consequences, legally and socially. If anything, experimentation is often encouraged between friends to try at least once, a mindset predominantly seen by teenagers and young adults. Thus, many people get high or drunk with the idea that it will be a one-time occurrence and often fall victim to addiction. Many people can stop themselves at a couple of usages. However, those who carry on using substances often because it makes them feel good, relax, and cope with stress, and/or emotional/mental problems, would move onto the next level of regular use.
Stage Two: Regular Use
Stage two is where things get a little tricky as some people use substances regularly without getting addicted. This, however, doesn't get rid of the fact that the risk of dependence and participating in risky behavior greatly increases. One may start depending on substance usage to escape reality or numb their pain. Many may feel guilty about their behavior, but they often justify it with reasoning or make excuses. In this stage as well, there are still many who may believe that because they are not addicted, it would be easy to quit at any time. Still, this mindset is flawed because often times substance use becomes a part of the routine.
Stage Three: High-Risk Use
Stage three is essentially a more serious, long-term version of stage two, where one has built a tolerance to drugs or alcohol and needs more to feel the same effects. At stage two, substance use can often be seen as a temporary escape still, but by stage three, it has now taken over other aspects of one's life. Cravings become unbearable, and one may indulge in actions unlike oneself in order to gain more drugs or alcohol. Not only that, but one may experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to quit, making the process uncomfortable or dangerous. Typically, one is unaware or unbothered by these consequences and justifies all types of behaviors instead. As a result, one's work life or relationships may suffer.
Stage Four: Addiction
Once someone has hit this stage, there is a complete dependency on substance use, and so if one does not receive intake regularly, one may break out in sweats, shakes, and tremors. As this is the case, people spend most of their time drunk or high, often leading to job dropouts, financial instability, relationship issues, and health problems. At this point, one would find it incredibly difficult to stop even if someone desperately asks; hence professional help is recommended to overcome addiction. It would be a difficult journey for anyone, but it is very much possible to recover from addiction at any stage. Addiction only gets worse if left untreated, so it is never too late to take steps toward recovery. If you or your loved one is struggling with addiction we are here for you.
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