Home » News Articles » Health Tips: Seven Levels Of Addiction And How To Understand Them
Syringe

Health Tips: Seven Levels Of Addiction And How To Understand Them

Did you know that addiction exists on a seven-level continuum? It can be difficult to understand, especially if you or a loved one is struggling with addiction. This blog post will break down each level of addiction and provide some tips for understanding and overcoming them.

1) The Initial Phase

The initial phase of addiction is often the most difficult to identify. This is the time when the person uses drugs for the first time and may not even be aware that they are addicted. In this phase, the person typically denies that there is a problem and tries to convince themselves and others that they can stop using drugs anytime they want. They may also try to hide their drug use from friends and family members.

The signs of addiction in this phase can be subtle, but there are some key indicators that you should look out for. The person may seem preoccupied with drug use, constantly talking about it or thinking about ways to get more drugs. They may also start behaving differently, becoming more secretive or isolated from friends and family members. Their physical appearance may change as well, with symptoms such as weight loss or gain, changes in hair color or style, or deterioration of personal hygiene habits.

2) The Experimentation Phase

The experimentation phase is when the person begins to use drugs more frequently. They may start using drugs to cope with problems or relieve boredom. In this phase, the person may still deny that there is a problem and believe that they can control their drug use. However, they will start to experience some negative consequences as a result of their drug use, such as relationship problems, financial difficulties, or job loss.

The signs of addiction in this phase can be more obvious than in the initial phase. The person may start to miss work or school, or their performance may suffer. They may also start to neglect their personal appearance and hygiene. Their behavior may become more erratic, and they may start to engage in risky behaviors, such as driving while under the influence of drugs.

3) Regular Use

Now things are getting tricky. In the regular use phase, the person is using drugs on a regular basis. They may start to develop a tolerance to the drugs, meaning they need to take more of the drug to get the same effect. This can lead to even more negative consequences, such as financial problems, relationship difficulties, and legal trouble.

The signs of addiction in this phase can be more obvious than in the initial and experimentation phases. The person may start to miss work or school more often, their performance may suffer, and they may start to neglect their personal appearance and hygiene. Their behavior may become more erratic, and they may start to engage in risky behaviors, such as driving while under the influence of drugs. As advised by the professionals from Cornerstone’s clinics, it is important to seek help at this stage to avoid more serious consequences. You can try an intensive outpatient program or a residential treatment program to get the help you need.

4) Problem Phase

The problem phase is when the addiction starts to take over the person’s life. They may start to use drugs more frequently and in larger amounts. They may also start to experience withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shaking, and anxiety, when they try to stop using drugs. At this point, the person’s life may be in danger, and they may be at risk of overdosing.

The signs of addiction in this phase can be more obvious than in the initial, experimentation, and regular use phases. The person may start to miss work or school more often, their performance may suffer, and they may start to neglect their personal appearance and hygiene. Their behavior may become even more problematic.

5) Definite Addiction

During phase five or the definite addiction phase, the person is fully addicted to the drug. They will start to experience more intense withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop using drugs. They may also start to exhibit psychotic symptoms, such as paranoia and delusions. At this point, the person’s life is in danger, and they may be at risk of overdosing or committing suicide.

The signs of addiction in this phase can be more obvious than in the initial, experimentation, regular use, and problem phases. The person may start to miss work or school more often, their performance may suffer, and they may start to neglect their personal appearance and hygiene. Not to mention, their behavior may become even more erratic, and they may start to engage in risky behaviors, such as driving while under the influence of drugs.

If you or someone you know is in this phase of addiction, it is important to get help as soon as possible. This is a dangerous phase, and the person may need to be hospitalized or placed in a treatment facility in order to get their life back on track.

Man on Ledge

6) Crisis

During the crisis phase, the person’s addiction has reached a breaking point. They may be experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms and psychotic symptoms. They may also be suicidal. At this point, the person’s life is in danger, and they need to get help immediately.

If you notice your loved one is in this phase of addiction, it is important to get help right away. This is a dangerous phase, and the person may need to be hospitalized or placed in a treatment facility in order to get their life back on track.

7) Treatment

If all things go according to plan, the person will enter treatment in this phase. This is the point where they will start to recover from their addiction. They may go through detox, therapy, and other treatments in order to get better. Depending on the severity of their addiction, they may need to stay in a treatment facility for a while.

Addiction can be a difficult thing to overcome, but with the help of professionals, it is possible. If you or someone you know is going through these stages of addiction, it is important to get help right away. The sooner they get help, the better their chances are of recovering.

Health Tips: Seven Levels Of Addiction And How To Understand Them

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About KHTS Articles