Stages of Addiction

Stage One: Experimentation

It’s human nature to be curious about things that you haven’t experienced personally. People often experiment with drugs because they want to know the sensations they create first-hand. They hear stories from others about how the drugs make them feel, and want to feel the same way too. Unfortunately, experimentation is the first stage of addiction.

Using drugs socially often seems very safe. You are around by others who have experience using the drugs. Thus, you think there’s no danger to worry about when it comes to using. The biggest danger of experimenting with drugs is that you don’t know how they are going to affect you. Many people actually overdose the first time they use a drug. This is because they take more of it than their body can handle. An overdose can lead to brain damage, a coma, or even death in some cases.

Stage Two: Regular Use

There are times when someone takes a drug to manage pain from an accident or injury. Even taking the medications as they are prescribed, there is still a risk of developing an addiction. Prescription drug addiction in Oklahoma can occur quickly and often go unnoticed until it too late.

Most people assume that drugs that are for recreation won’t lead to addiction, because they are only taking them occasionally. It’s common to enjoy the way that drugs or alcohol make them feel. However, this can lead to cravings for that same “high.”

When someone takes drugs on a regular basis, they often start to notice that it takes longer for them to bounce back once the high wears off. They may feel nauseous, tired, moody or even confused for much longer than when they first started using or drinking. Coupled with their craving for the same sensation of the high, people quickly fall into a cycle of use that leaves them feeling worse.

At this stage, people often think that they don’t have an addiction. They are taking the drug infrequently or only during social gatherings. For those with prescriptions, they are just taking them as directed by their doctor. However, their use becomes more regular and a part of their day to day life. If you struggling with addiction, or are concerned for a loved one, then call us today. We will be able to assist you in getting the proper treatment you need now.

Stage Three: Risky Use 

Eventually, your body will become accustomed to the drugs or alcohol that you are taking. When this happens, you’ll have to take more of them to get the same feeling that you once did. Your brain will build up a tolerance to the drugs and chemical changes can take place. Addiction is a brain disorder because it involves functional changes to brain neurons involved in reward, stress, and self-control. These changes may last a long time after a person has stopped taking drugs. When the chemical changes your brain, your desire for drugs will become stronger and stronger. When you start taking more of a drug, it’s hard to know what amount is too much for your body to handle.

Pay attention to how often and how much you are using drugs or alcohol. If you notice that the amount you originally took no longer provides you with the results you want, your tolerance to the drug is much higher, and thus the likelihood of developing an alcohol or drug addiction will be much higher. For those in Oklahoma, many struggle with alcohol and meth addiction in particular.

Stage Four: Dependence

Once your body and mind become accustomed to the drug or alcohol, it will crave it. At this stage, you are dependent and need to take more and more to feel like you can function at all. During the early stages of addiction, it’s normal to develop headaches, nausea, muscle aches, and even moodiness. However, by this stage, your body is so used to the substance, that if you go without it, you immediately begin to feel negative symptoms.

When you become dependent on the drugs, it’s very hard to stop using because every time you go without them, you’ll feel sick and in pain. This will take away from other aspects of your life because you will be so consumed by the need to use. Without the drug or alcohol flowing through your system, your body starts the process of detoxing. This can be painful and even result in death if not monitored by a medical professional. Once you use again, you’ll feel ultimate relief, and thus starts the cycle again which leads you into a full-blown addiction. Break the cycle today. Call us now, and we will start discussing your treatment options as soon as you call. Do not wait, get help before it is too late.

Stage Five: Addiction

The last stage is a full on addiction. In this stage, you feel as though you cannot function without the drug or alcohol. The only focus you have in life is how to get more of the substance you crave. There are many people who make horrible decisions when they are battling addiction because they are desperate.

This is also the stage that presents a lot of danger for users. People in addiction often take any drug that they can get if they are starting to feel the withdrawal symptoms that come from not using for an extended period of time. This can lead to overdose because they could take too much of the drug or alcohol unknowingly. It also leads to using new, sometimes even more dangerous drugs. Many people choose to mix drugs in an effort to get the high that they want. However, combining drugs can be dangerous and even deadly, and at this stage, it is a crisis for the addict. It’s no longer a casual habit, it’s a life or death situation.

When you are ready to stop using drugs, it’s best to get help from a professional treatment facility to make the process easier for you. Treatment centers across the state of Oklahoma cater to the needs of each individual patient.

When you first stop using drugs, your body will go through detox. Detoxing on your own can be dangerous because your body will go through uncomfortable and painful withdrawals. You may feel nauseous, have headaches, muscle aches, and you may even have a heart attack. Your body may go into shock without the substance in your system, which is why it is so important to seek medical help. Medically supervised detox treatment ensures that you are as safe as possible at all times.