The Stages of Drug Addiction

Addiction chooses no one and it has no permanent cure. Relapse occurs to many people just when they think they recovered. Many have a notion that consuming substances infrequently is the best way to combat addiction. However, there are many existing conditions that also lead to drug addiction.
 
It is necessary to understand the phases of addiction to know the Richmond addiction treatment options to take once you noticed a loved one suffering from the disease.
 
Experimentation
 
Many people start abusing substances in their teens although there is an alarming increase in the statistics of people using drugs as early as 10. Since this may not appear abusive and harmful at first glance, there are cases where it results to substantial harm to everyone. For instance, driving under the influence increases the risks of accidents. When left alone, children may also injure themselves as the parents are intoxicated.
 
Experimentation almost always results to increase in the frequency of use in the future. Children and teens are naturally curious, that is where parents and those with authority should warn them about the side effects of drug abuse. It also helps to prevent them from having an access to a possible source of the abused substance.
 
Regular Use
 
Many of us drink alcohol on social occasions, and we think that is perfectly fine. However, if your consumption results mentally erratic actions and harm to oneself or others, it is also considered a prelude to drug abuse. Commercials in the television and streaming websites often warn people to consume alcohol moderately.
 
However, there are those who find temporary reprieve in alcohol that they treated it as a medication. They slowly incorporate drug consumption as a regular part of their lives, whether they want to relax, gain sleep or get more energy. It is a must to observe a loved one if he or she starts to regularly drink alcohol or consume illicit drugs.
 
Problematic or Risky Use
 
As the drug becomes a part of your system, you begin to take risks just to taste it again. Your pleasure system has dominated your brain, eliminating the part that is responsible for making reasons. This can be in the form of binge drinking, where you consume large amounts of alcohol periodically. The US government defines binge drinking as having alcohol intake of five or more drinks in a day for 30 days.
 
Risky use of drugs now marks the suspicion that a person is now suffering from substance abuse. Also in this phase, you will notice how the drug affects the job performance and relationships of your loved one. This may or may not involve tolerance or total dependence. As long as the person shows a string of erratic actions affecting everyone else in the house, this falls under substance abuse. This is considered as a mental illness, and needs to be managed immediately to avoid consequences.
 
Addiction
 
Without proper guidance and Richmond drug and alcohol treatment, the drug has caused adverse changes in the person’s mind and body. They are now unable to control the craving for the substance despite knowing the negative consequences of use. No permanent treatment exists and relapse can happen for those who enjoy recovery for a certain time. The longer the person developed dependency on the drug, the slower and harder the recovery.
 
There are two kinds of dependency often discussed with addiction. First is physical dependence, where the addict uses the drug due to a chronic condition. Antidepressant medications are widely abused drugs, with fatalities resulting to those who failed to stop their addiction. If your loved one experiences withdrawal symptoms after stopping drug use, it is likely that he has a dependency.
 
Psychological dependency refers to the user’s need to consume a drug to be functional or feel well. This may be subjective; hence, it is not very useful in creating a diagnosis. You should note that the experience depends on the substance that is consumed and what prompted the person to be addicted. The only way that addiction can be stopped is through a facility that offers drug detox in Richmond. Self-medication often results to relapse and worse results much later.
 
We offer help.
 
Are you ready for recovery? Let us discuss options for long term Richmond drug and alcohol treatment with Virginia Center for Addiction today!