Dependence, Addiction & Recovery

Stages of Addiction

Stage One: Activation of Pleasure Using the drug produced a positive sensation. The user likes the experience

Stage Two: Habitual Use The drug user will seek out experiences that will lead them to the drug to repeat the feeling of pleasure. The user begins to show tolerance to the drug and may begin to increase dosage.

Stage Three: Addiction Repeating the drug-taking leads from liking the drug to wanting it regardless of consequences. Eventually, the drug produces very little liking. However, wanting and needing comes to dominate the user’s behavior.

This process explains how habitual users may continue to use drugs even though taking them no longer produces pleasure. Ex.) Heroin users may report that they are miserable and that the drug itself is no longer pleasurable, but they still want it. Encounters with cues of the drug (people, places, things) initiates wanting.

Overcoming Addiction More people overcome addictions than fail. The overwhelming majority do so without therapy. Quitting may take several tries but eventually most succeed in shaking dependence.

Most people quit addictions on their own. They succeed when they realize their addiction interferes with something they value and when they develop the confidence that they can change. Successful treatment places the responsibility for change squarely on the individual. Also teach coping skills to deal with life stressors without the use of drugs.