There are so many people battling addiction issues, it
is difficult to ascertain how many exactly. Experts
believe an estimated 24 million struggle with the disease in the United States
of America. Treating addiction isn’t enough, how people become addicted is as
important. According to healthcare professionals, there are a few stages to
addiction-
First Use- The
first use is mostly out of a sense of adventure, peer pressure or a medical
necessity which makes a person learn how the substance makes them feel at that
point of time.
Continued Use-
When it comes to a person with prescription, the continued use of a particular
substance might be out of a requirement or a need to use the medication. For an
individual who quickly returned to the substance after experimenting not too
long back, it indicates that they like how the drug makes them feel.
Tolerance-
This is the stage that arrives after a period of continued use and it is also
the first warning sign of addiction. Tolerance implies the brain and body have
adjusted to the drug and it now takes a greater amount to feel the effects of
it.
Dependence- This
stage involves the substance abuser being physically ill without alcohol or
drugs, even to the extent of developing serious withdrawal symptoms. Chemically,
the brain has become too accustomed to the substance to function well without
it. Individuals
don’t feel “normal” if they’re not using the substance. A person may
also go into withdrawal where they can experience flu-like symptoms with
opiates, or sweats and shakiness with alcohol.
Addiction-
This is the last stage where individuals find it nearly impossible to stop
misusing drugs or alcohol and are unable to stop themselves just when things
seem to be going well.
Remember, there are variations within the stages
unique to every individual.
According to research, segments
of the population are genetically predisposed to addiction, but the disposition
is not a guarantee a person will become an addict. An
individual with no predisposition can just as easily develop an addiction.
Now that you are aware of the addiction stages, addiction
treatment can help you get sober and stay sober. H.E.L.P. is a
multi-faceted outpatient facility (addiction treatment facility, East Harlem)
offering co-located services of addiction medicine, general medicine and Mental
Health. We’re here to help you at any stage of your addiction.
For more information, call on (212) 876-2300.
