Addiction is many things, but first and foremost it is a disease. The APA, or American Psychological Association, label it as a chronic brain disorder affecting the senses of memory, motivation, and pleasure. The factors of it are numerous, ranging from social to biological, environmental to psychological, and there is a well-known genetic component as well. Addiction works in stages, commonly called the ‘cycle of addiction.’ This is what the cycle is, and what it isn’t.

The Cycle of Addiction  – The Common Phases

Initial Use

The first introduction and use of the substance. However it was first introduced, whether through a new prescription to manage pain, or a peer group and a recreational use, this is the first phase of the addiction cycle.

Not everyone who uses an illicit substance or prescription become addicted upon their first use of course, but there are several risk factors that could set them up for abuse. Things like social problems, depression, peers or family members who enable, abuse, neglect, mental disorders, or a family history of substance abuse.

Continued Use / Abuse

The substance use is continued. Whether the pain prescription is still being used, binge drinking in social situations. During this phase, the continued use will become substance ‘abuse’ as use ramps up in frequency or heavier use/doses. Sometimes this is to cover for the negative feelings and symptoms of the use, more often this is because of…

Tolerance

At this point, the frequent, regular use of the substance has caused the brain to alter itself, making changes to respond to the continual presence of the substance. The same amount of substance no longer trigger the same effects mentally or physically. The brain no longer produces the same chemicals, the receptors don’t function as they should.

Addiction / Dependence

The physical changes in the brain lead to this stage. The individual now has cravings for the substance, because their brain has adapted to its continual presence. In turn, the individual now spends their time seeking it out, using, to the detriment of everything else. Relationships, social activities, and daily responsibilities fall by the wayside. The user no longer limits themselves by setting or time, what started as weekend binge drinking becomes bathroom shots at work to get their fix.

Withdrawal

Any attempt to stop substance abuse, whether accidental or purposeful, will lead to withdrawal symptoms. Fatigue, anxiety, nausea, tremors, and worse can occur. These vary depending on substance but they all follow the same pattern. The body is in pain at being deprived of chemicals it has come to rely on. But, through proper treatment, it can be survived.

Relapse

The final, and yet first, stage of the cycle of addiction. Relapse. After being through the withdrawal symptoms, or maybe because they were too difficult to handle, the individual relapses, finding their drug or substance and starting the cycle of use, abuse, addiction again. There are many reasons people relapse, many of which are tied into those original reasons they chose to use in the first place. While in the cycle of addiction it can be nearly impossible to rectify the situations in life that lead to their use originally, and so when clean the situation is the same, pushing them back into substance abuse’s waiting for arms.

Knowing is half the battle, as they say, and knowing the stages of the cycle of addiction can help inform patients and their support group of where they are, where they have been, and where they could be again. Support them, get proper treatment and break through the cycle.