From First Use to Dependence: Understanding the Cycle of Addiction and How To Break It

Sometimes staying in a rut is easier than trying to climb out and falling back in. Why not save yourself and everyone else the disappointment of another failure by just accepting that your place is down in that rut?

Has this ever been your thought process as you struggle to break free of addiction? It’s based on the damaging and disempowering lie that your efforts are in vain. Don’t believe it. Every effort you make toward sobriety is valuable.

Dove Recovery describes the cyclical nature of addiction and how you can nevertheless make your escape.

Table of Contents

• How Is Addiction Defined?
• 6 Stages In the Cycle of Addiction
• Commonly Asked Questions About the Cycle of Addiction
• How Do You Break the Cycle Of Addiction?
• Break the Cycle of Drug and Alcohol Addiction at Dove Recovery

Addiction is a condition in which substance use has so affected a person’s brain that they are no longer able to resist cravings and thus seek opportunities for substance use regardless of its negative effects on their life.

Some signs that your substance use has developed into an addiction include:

• Using the substance in greater amounts or longer than intended
• Inability to cut back or abstain from the substance
• Spending more time under the influence of the substance
• Difficulty managing school, work, or domestic responsibilities
• Continuing use, even to the detriment of your relationships or physical safety
• Prioritizing substance use over participation in normal events
• Developing a tolerance to the substance and/or withdrawal

Experiencing more of these symptoms indicates a more severe addiction. Contact Dove Recovery today as a first step to learning to combat addiction in your life.

Addictions take time to fully develop, though the amount of time is unique to each person and also depends on what substance they are using. Progression through the following stages indicates that the addiction is more deeply entrenched.

Stage #1: Initiation

An individual’s first time using a drug is the initiation stage. Regardless of the reason for the drug use — curiosity, peer pressure, pain management, etc. — addiction isn’t inevitable. Many people try a drug and cease to use it entirely. Certain circumstances, however, make some more likely to use a drug long enough to become addicted:

• Living in a chaotic home, including abuse and neglect
• Having a mental health disorder, such as depression and anxiety
• Being part of a culture (whether at home or at school) that views substance use positively

Stage #2: Misuse

Misuse is any harmful use of a substance. For some substances, such as heroin or cocaine, the first use constitutes misuse because the drug itself is unquestionably harmful. For others, such as alcohol or tobacco, the line between proper use and misuse is a bit more difficult to distinguish. Chasing a high, or using the substance only to induce euphoria, can quickly become harmful.

Attempting to self-treat health issues (whether physical or mental) without professional guidance may also constitute misuse.

Stage #3: Tolerance

After a person has used a substance for a certain amount of time, changes in the brain cause them to develop a tolerance to it, so they need more of the substance to produce the desired effect. Thus, continued drug use works according to the law of diminishing returns: As the brain’s dopamine system becomes less sensitive to the drug, the person uses more frequently and in greater amounts in order to achieve the same degree of pleasurable feelings as before.

Stage #4: Addiction

At this point, substance use becomes more of a compulsion and less of a conscious choice. The person feels that life is unmanageable or unbearable without the substance. Their perceived need for the substance shapes their behavior and lifestyle, possibly leading them to:

• Abandon former hobbies
• Avoid friends or family
• Lie about their substance use
• Prioritize substance use over things that were formerly more important
• Become easily irritated by threats to their substance use
• Become blind to the effect their substance use has on their relationships

Addiction is considered a chronic disease. Once a person has reached this stage, they must commit to lifelong vigilance against relapse.

Stage #5: Dependence

The distinction between physical and psychological dependence is a crucial point to understand, especially when planning treatment. A psychological dependence — wherein the person believes they need the substance in order to function normally — may already have become established in stage 4. This may occur with or without a physical dependence, which is characterized by the body’s reliance on the substance.

Physical dependence may be strong enough that withdrawal causes very uncomfortable or even life-threatening symptoms. Because relief of these symptoms is most quickly achieved by continued substance use, individuals with a physical dependence are compelled to continue using, and the cycle becomes deeply ingrained.

Stage #6: Relapse

According to a general estimate based on the findings of psychologists and therapists, 40-60% of individuals seeking recovery from addiction will relapse at some point. While it’s easy to feel discouraged after a relapse, it is important to avoid viewing yourself as a failure. Relapses can be overcome with renewed commitment, adjustments to treatment, and access to the right kind of help, such as the personalized approach provided by Dove Recovery’s professional team.

Can Someone Fall Into Addiction With Only Occasional Substance Use? 

It’s possible. While some individuals may use casually and not become addicted to a substance, others may become addicted after only a single use, particularly if the substance is highly addictive, such as heroin or cocaine.

Several factors play a role in how quickly a person becomes addicted to a particularly drug:

• History of addiction in the immediate family
• Mental health disorder
• Substance use at an early age
• Lack of family involvement
• Peer pressure

As these factors have varying degrees of influence, it is not possible to predict exactly when addiction will set in or whether even one use of a drug will not lead to addiction.

What Role Do Family and Friends Play in Breaking the Cycle of Addiction?

Family and friends can help break the cycle in various ways:

• Practice and promote healthy habits and forms of recreation.
• Encourage the addict to reconsider their drug use.
• Be a supportive influence for emotional stability and accountability.
• Help the addict remove triggers of substance use.
• Refuse to enable (i.e. set boundaries).
• Gently urge treatment and/or help find professional resources for recovery assistance.

Being one of the healthy constants in an addict’s life can help make the difference between success and failure in their recovery journey. Though all the responsibility does not rest on friends and family, they can help lift the burden and be an ever-present reminder of the joys to be had in the absence of drugs.

While addiction is considered a chronic condition, it will not always be an uphill battle. Sometimes you will genuinely struggle, but other times may be surprisingly simpler than you anticipated. The key is to be ready to break the cycle whenever you notice its attempt to establish control over you again.

Three ways you can forearm yourself in this battle are:

1. To be actively engaged in all aspects of treatment, including therapy, peer group sessions, and self-education.
2. To set goals to prioritize your well-being, such as through diet, exercise, and sleep.
3. To continue recovery efforts even after “treatment” is complete, such as attending support groups and cultivating sober friendships.

Dove Recovery has years of experience helping committed individuals to break the cycle of addiction and embrace a life of sobriety. Contact us today to learn how you can begin setting yourself up for success and a changed life for the better.

If you’re looking for a rehabilitation center that’s committed to holistic treatment, we can assure you that at Dove Recovery our treatment programs are built around the complex nature of addiction, including its psychological, physical, and emotional aspects.

Our programs are designed to guide anyone at any stage of the cycle of addiction. They include:

• Intensive outpatient program: Intensive support for individuals needing a more flexible schedule.
• Outpatient program: Part-time for individuals who still need to attend work or school.
• Partial hospitalization program: Intensive support for individuals who don’t need constant supervision.
• Detox: Initial support for severe addictions.
• Counseling & therapy: Guidance from professional psychologists and therapists to help strengthen your mind and body against relapse.

Dove Recovery appreciates the trust of our clients as they seek support for a life unencumbered by drug addiction. Contact us today to begin learning and practicing a life of freedom.

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