Stages of Addiction
Residents of Oklahoma City have seen first hand how addiction can spiral out of control. Not only do individuals experience the affects, but the damage of addiction on the community can be devastating. Commonly, people dependent on drugs or alcohol don’t know how their addiction progresses and when to get help. There are five stages of addiction and the more it progresses, then the more negative consequences come. The stages of addiction can occur regardless of casual or regular use and can happen to anyone.
Knowledge is key when it comes to addiction. Fortunately we are here to provide information on the stages of addiction. Call us today at (405) 583-4390. Our experts will help you beat your addiction, and start your journey to sobriety.
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.
Addiction Happens Fast
Addiction often occurs because people don’t realize how quickly it can happen. For many people, they don’t become addicted overnight. However, some drugs are stronger than others, and can have serious affects even after one use. Meth, for example, is a drug that some users adapt to almost instantly. They crave how the drug makes them feel and instantly want to use it again and again. For others, alcohol addiction can happen within months because of the social aspect of drinking. Depending on the substance, addiction can take weeks, months, or even years to fully develop.
Addiction is a brain disease and can be from your parents or family members. If someone in your family has had a problem with addiction, the likelihood of you becoming addicted is far greater than someone whose family has never had an issue with it. Avoiding anything that can be addictive is crucial if addiction runs in your family. Also, knowing the triggers and understanding your family members addiction can help you avoid going down the same path. If you are struggling with addiction, or know someone who is, then do not wait. Call us today. We will work with you to find the best treatment option for you and your situation.

▶ Early Stages Of Addiction
Curiosity is another way that addiction can begin. Some people start using a mild drug, such as marijuana and end up using harder drugs later because they are curious about how it makes them feel. It’s also possible for you to ingest harder drugs unknowingly because the marijuana that you smoke is laced with meth or heroin. You’ll instantly notice the difference in the high that you feel, and it can trigger you to want to try harder drugs to chase the high that you got when you smoked the laced weed. This is true for other drugs such as ecstasy or designer drugs that you may experiment within a social setting. You never honestly know what you are taking, and therefore, you may seek other harder drugs such as heroin to get the same high.
▶ Metal State
Mental health issues that go untreated can also lead to an addiction. Many people who battle anxiety or depression choose to use drugs to try to self-medicate. Self-medicating only during times when you feel the anxiety can lead to addiction because eventually, you’ll start to take the drugs in anticipation that something is going to cause you anxiety. You will then end up taking the drugs on a regular basis to avoid anxiety altogether and develop a full-blown addiction. Do not let your mental state get to the point of no return. Call us today, and we can help you beat your addiction. Also, clear your mental state and start living a happier and healthier life.
▶ Environment Surroundings
Someone can become an addict based on who they surround themselves with, where they live, and their knowledge of drugs when they are growing up. If you feel that drug use is acceptable, and even a regular part of life, you’ll be far more likely to experiment at some point.
To Stop Addiction Call 405-583-4390
How Bad is Your Addiction?
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.

During an in-patient detox, you’ll be given the foods that your body needs to heal properly. You will get mental health treatment to help you learn why you started to use drugs, and help with understanding some of the guilt that you may feel. Most treatment programs ensure that any mental or physical disorders that has gone undiagnosed can be treated properly.
Being able to gain control over your mental health can be very freeing.
Once you finish an addiction treatment, aftercare is usually provided so that you can continue with your growth and development. Our goal is to help you find the best drug treatment in Oklahoma that is approachable and long-lasting.
We know that the temptation to use drugs is widespread throughout Oklahoma. Therefore we want to ensure that everyone has the best shot possible at having a life that is drug and alcohol-free. The first step to getting the help you need is to contact us today. Start on your journey to recovery sooner rather than later.