The Stages Of Addiction

June 13, 2025

9:00 am

The stages of addiction from experimentation to recovery

If you are thinking “What are the stages of Addiction”? Read on. Let us examine what happens from Experimentation To Recovery.

Like anything in life, there are stages to a process.: You are born, you grow old, and you die. Addiction follows stages, but unlike life, the outcome depends on the individual and what they want to do about it: Recover or carry on.

Willpower won’t stop it, but the right treatment can. Addiction takes time to form in an individual, so it is logical that recovery is not achieved overnight.  

To overcome addiction, you need to develop coping strategies that need to be utilised for life to maintain active recovery. While, on occasions, this can be done without help, this is rare and the potential for a serious medical incident too high to risk.

Each addict goes through several stages in the cycle of recovery. While every person who experiences addiction does so within a unique set of circumstances, there are some common themes.

For the last fifty years, a stages of change model have been universally used in rehab centres and is known addiction focused therapists.  

Here at Find Me a Rehab we have experienced addictions clinicians who can give you free, impartial and confidential advice on any aspect of addiction, treatment, rehab and therapy. We can also advise, and arrange, treatment at home (where clinically viable). If you need 24 rehab advice, want to find alcohol addiction rehab treatment and are looking for a rehab referral specialist UK you are in the right place.

The Stages Of Addiction 1st stage: Precontemplation

It is not uncommon for someone at this stage not to even know there is a problem. The old cliched phrase denial is often cited at this point as the person may be unable to process the damage their actions are having.

The person might be drinking every day of the week or dependent on painkillers from their GP. The biggest hurdle at this stage is that the person sees quitting as a wholly negative step.

They won’t accept help which can be incredibly difficult for those who are supporting them. In the UK, treatment is entirely voluntary and those who try and circumvent by taking their relative to the local accident and emergency department soon learn that the NHS won’t help.

This is because they only have a duty of care to what is reasonable. As soon as someone is safe to be discharged, they will be. Think you can get a free detox on the NHS? Think again.

It is not unknown for someone with severe alcohol dependency to get a quick bag of IV fluids, if that, and then be kicked out and told to carry on drinking.  

2nd stage: Contemplation

Here the person starts to think about change and realises that their use is out of control. They will start to draw up a mental list of the advantages of getting treatment and the negative connotations of quitting.

While they are open to change, they still have excuses as to why taking drugs or alcohol is a positive choice. On average this second stage happens about six months after stage one. Thoughts about how to manage work, family, commitments while in treatment often cause anxiety. 

 

3rd Stage: Preparation

Sometimes known as preparation, it is at this juncture that someone is ready to get into treatment and recovery. It may be reducing the amount they drink, how much they spend on cocaine, etc but the danger here is withdrawal.

While not everyone will need a detox, any attempt to try and do this at home can be incredibly dangerous: if not fatal.

The adage of “lock someone on heroin in a room with a bucket and roll of toilet paper” might make good television but the resulting dehydration can force an acute medical emergency. The risk of alcohol withdrawal at home, without medical supervision and detox do not bare thinking about. 

 

4th Stage: Action

This is the time when someone gets the ball rolling and arranges treatment at a rehab centre. On occasions, where clinically viable, treatment at home may be possible.

It is essential that, at this point, the person makes an informed choice.

While all centres provide detox and therapy, some always restrict the use of phones and laptops, others allow their use in the evenings while some allow residents to keep their devices on them. Obviously, during group time they are switched off.  

5th Stage: Maintenance

Getting into rehab, having a detox and taking part in the therapy groups and individual sessions is the way to get into recovery. However, that is not enough.

To stay sober from alcohol and abstinent from drugs and/or behavioural addictions takes effort, ongoing support and a lot of determination.

While the first six months, post discharge from rehab is usually a period where someone can maintain abstinence themselves, people sometimes hit a wall at this point and need, aside from the tools they learn in rehab, the support of others in recovery.  

All centres offer a minimum of a twelve-month aftercare usually in the form of a weekly support group for former residents as well as telephone support.

 As we have discussed, The Stages Of Addiction: From Experimentation To Recovery are able to be overcome, with the right help.

Call and speak to an experienced addictions clinician for free, independent and impartial advice on any aspect of rehab, treatment, detox and therapy.