Stages of Addiction
While genetics and neurochemistry assuredly play important roles in addiction the experience of addiction from the addict’s perspective is not at the genetic or neurochemical level. The experience of addiction is progressive.
At first the inpidual may just be experimenting with drugs or alcohol, and for many this first stage is their last stage and thus the vast majority of experimenters never progress to addiction.
Following the experimental stage is the second stage this is where the use of alcohol or drugs produces positive rewarding experiences. The next stage occurs when the use of alcohol or drugs starts to cause the user problems such as:
The next stage is where trying to quit the use of drugs or alcohol causes the person to experience physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms.
Once the withdrawal stage is entered into the person feels physically compelled to continue their use and if their use continues unabated at this point the probability of an untimely death due to their addiction becomes all but certain.
Rick Murphy, M.A.