The 5 Stages of Addiction: What You Need to Know

Addiction doesn’t occur suddenly; it develops gradually through several stages that alter both brain chemistry and behaviour. By understanding these five stages, you can recognize warning signs early and take action.

Welcome to our guide on the 5 stages of addiction and how to recover.

Addiction does not develop overnight. It is a gradual process that unfolds through repeated substance use or compulsive behaviours that slowly alter both your brain chemistry and personal perception. While the timeline varies for each person depending on factors like dosage, frequency, and individual biology, addiction follows a predictable pattern.

The good news? This means it can be identified, and treated. In this article, we’ll break down the stages of addiction, from the first experience with a substance or behaviour to the point of full-on addiction. You’ll also learn about the neuroscience behind addiction, how it rewires the brain, and, most importantly, a step-by-step guide to recovery.

Whether you’re concerned about yourself or a loved one, recognising these stages early can help you intervene before addiction takes hold

What Are the 5 Stages of Addiction?

The five key stages of addiction are:

1. Experimentation: A person starts experimenting with substances or behaviours like gambling for the first time. 
2. Regular Use: They go from the experimentation phase to using a substance or engaging in addictive behaviour more frequently. 
3. Risky Use: The behaviour starts negatively affecting an individual’s life, impacting the people around them, too. 
4. Dependence: They develop a physical and psychological reliance on the substance or behaviour. 
5. Addiction: The person develops a full-blown addiction characterised by compulsive use despite severe consequences.

1. Experimentation

This is where it all begins. It can be your first sip of alcohol at a party, using painkillers after surgery and noticing how good they feel, or gambling with your friends for the first time for the thrill of it. 

Sound familiar? That’s because we all experienced something for the first time. In most cases, experimenting with substances or behaviours doesn’t lead to addiction. However, it can start reinforcing patterns in the brain that may eventually lead to abuse and dependency.

🚩 Red flag:
The belief that “trying it once” is harmless can be dangerous, as some substances and behaviours can be highly addictive even after just one use. If you feel instant cravings, take a step back and take a break. It’s better to close the door to potential addiction early.

2. Regular Use

This is when the behaviour becomes more frequent. Someone may start drinking alcohol or smoking marijuana 4-5 nights a week instead of once per week. Or, an addictive behaviour may become a part of their everyday routine.

For example:

• Drinking every weekend instead of just on special occasions.
• Using prescription medication even after the initial pain is gone.
• Smoking cigarettes or vaping daily.
• Playing online gambling games regularly.

Many people in this stage can still function normally, but early warning signs of addiction may begin to emerge, such as:

🚩 Red flag:
At this stage, you may start noticing increased tolerance—needing more of a substance or behaviour to get the same effect. This can signal a developing problem as you begin using more or engaging in riskier activities (e.g., gambling higher stakes) to satisfy your cravings.

3. Risky Use

At this stage, substance use or compulsive behaviour starts crossing the line from casual to harmful. What once seemed manageable now leads to real negative consequences, such as affecting the addict’s health, relationships, work, or daily responsibilities.

Examples of risky use can include:

• Driving under the influence.
• Missing work or school due to hangovers or withdrawals.
• Lying to loved ones about the extent of substance use.
• Spending excessive money on gambling, alcohol, or drugs.

Even when consequences arise—like health warnings from a doctor or conflicts with family—the person continues engaging in the behaviour. 

Psychological denial is common, with individuals rationalising their actions (“I can stop anytime”) or blaming external factors.

🚩 Red flag:
At this stage, people start ignoring negative consequences and making excuses for continued use. If you notice such behaviours in yourself or someone you know, you should seek professional help at once.

4. Dependence

The final stage before developing an addiction is dependence. By this stage, the body and mind have adapted to the substance or behaviour, manifesting itself as:

• Psychological Dependence – Cravings, anxiety, or depression when not using.
• Physical Dependence – Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, tremors, or insomnia when trying to stop.

Dependence often leads to loss of control over usage, increased secrecy and isolation, and prioritising substance use over relationships, work, or health.

🚩 Red flag:
If you or a loved one experience withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop, we recommend seeking professional support in order to ensure a successful recovery.

5. Addiction

At this stage, addiction has fully taken over the mind and body. What once felt like a choice is now a compulsion, driven by changes in brain chemistry that make quitting feel impossible.

• Compulsive use despite negative consequences (job loss, broken relationships, health problems).
• Loss of interest in anything outside of the addiction.
• Failed attempts to quit, despite wanting to.

Addiction rewires the brain, and quitting alone can feel impossible.

Here’s a bit more on the fascinating neuroscience behind addiction.

Addiction rewires the brain by altering important areas that are necessary for life-sustaining functions and can drive more compulsive drug use, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) on their page Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction at Nida.nih.gov. 

Addiction affects your basal ganglia, your prefrontal cortex, and your amygdala, which together are responsible for reward, pleasure, critical thinking, and emotion. This makes you not only get temporary relief and reward for taking the drug, it also makes you compulsively desire the drug to the point that it takes over your life.

However, remember that recovery is always possible with the right support and commitment. Addiction is a disease, and diseases can be treated. 

Here at The Cabin, we’ve helped thousands of people recover from alcohol, cocaine, and opioid addiction as well as every other type of substance use disorder. We can even treat behavioural addictions like sex or gambling addiction.

The Importance of Recognising Addiction Stages

Understanding addiction’s stages can be life-changing, especially if you or someone you love is struggling. Studies show that early intervention leads to much higher recovery rates, particularly when help is introduced during the Regular Use or Risky Use stages.

Here is an eye-opening and encouraging statement from the book Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health in the section entitled CHAPTER 4: EARLY INTERVENTION, TREATMENT, AND MANAGEMENT OF SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS:

Supported scientific evidence indicates that substance misuse and substance use disorders can be reliably and easily identified through screening and that less severe forms of these conditions often respond to brief physician advice and other types of brief interventions. Well-supported scientific evidence shows that these brief interventions work with mild severity alcohol use disorders, but only promising evidence suggests that they are effective with drug use disorders.

This means that if you catch it early, you have a much better chance of stopping the addiction before it becomes a serious problem.

Recognising the warning signs early gives you a real chance to stop the cycle before it’s too late. And please remember: No one has to go through this alone. Support is available.

Why Early Intervention Is Key

• Prevents long-term damage. Catching addictive behaviours early can help prevent devastating consequences like job loss, relationship breakdowns, and severe health issues.

• Increases the likelihood of quitting. Research shows that the earlier a person seeks help, the higher their chances of achieving long-term recovery with fewer relapses.

• Reduces withdrawal severity. The deeper a person is in addiction, the harder the withdrawal process becomes. Stopping at the dependence stage is much easier than trying to quit once a full-blown addiction has developed. We’ve helped people recover in the early stages of addiction, and they didn’t need medication or much supervision. While others deeper into addiction required 24/7 medical care. It makes a huge difference.

• Saves time and resources. Early treatment can reduce the need for intensive rehab programmes and long-term medical care, making the recovery process smoother and more cost-effective.

The 5 Stages of Addiction Recovery

Just like addiction progresses through stages, so does recovery. It starts with the acknowledgement of a problem and the desire to change, then slowly progresses to taking action and maintaining long-term sobriety through support and dedication.

Every step forward is one step closer to a happier, healthier, and more fulfilling life in sobriety. As one of our previous clients put it, “I feel like I have a new lease on life”. 

Here are the 5 stages of addiction recovery. If you understand which stage you or a loved one are in, you can greatly improve the chances of a successful recovery.

1. Pre-Contemplation

In the pre-contemplation phase, the individual is not yet ready to acknowledge their addiction. They typically deny that they have a problem, justify their addiction, and resist suggestions from loved ones or even professionals.

2. Contemplation

The person starts to see that their addiction is negatively affecting their life. They may feel torn between wanting to quit and fearing what life would be like without the substance or behaviour.

Signs of this stage include:

• Admitting that addiction is causing problems.
• Thinking about the pros and cons of quitting. 
• Feeling unsure about how to move forward.

3. Preparation

The person commits to making a change and begins seeking treatment options. This is a breakthrough stage, as they are actively preparing to take their first steps toward full recovery. 

Those steps may include:

• Researching rehab programmes or support groups.
• Making lifestyle changes to support recovery.
• Setting a date to quit or seek treatment.

4. Action

This is where true transformation begins. The person takes steps to remove addiction from their life, which can include:

• Detoxing to cleanse the body of substances.
• Attending inpatient or outpatient rehab for structured support.
• Engaging in therapy to address emotional and psychological triggers.

5. Maintenance

With addiction under control, the focus shifts to maintaining sobriety and preventing relapse. This stage is lifelong and requires continuous effort. Here’s a tip that we’ve learnt from watching countless thousands of people recover: Don’t think of this as a “task”. Rather, think of it as a gift. The gift of recovery. Instead of thinking, I need to work on this for the rest of my life”, think of it as, “I am grateful that I get to build the life I’ve always dreamed of without drugs”.

Key strategies include:

• Avoiding triggers and high-risk situations.
• Staying connected with support groups and therapy.
• Building a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle that supports recovery.

The Role of Support Systems

Nobody overcomes addiction alone. Recovery is a major life change that requires you to build an entirely new life. This kind of change takes time, patience, and most importantly, support. A solid support system provides the encouragement and accountability needed to stay on track.

People in recovery who have strong social support are far more likely to maintain sobriety. They have lower substance use rates after treatment, improved treatment retention, are able to remain abstinent for longer, and abstinence self-efficacy, according to Islam, Mohammed F., et al., in their paper The Importance of Social Support in Recovery Populations: Toward a Multilevel Understanding published in Alcohol Treatment Quarterly on February 28th, 2023.

Those with consistent encouragement from loved ones or recovery communities experience fewer relapses, lower stress levels, and a greater sense of purpose.

Addiction thrives in isolation, but recovery grows through connection. Having people in your corner gives you the strength to push forward, even when it feels impossible.

Key support options include:

• Therapy (CBT, DBT, trauma therapy)
• Support groups (12-step programmes, SMART Recovery)
• Inpatient and outpatient rehab programmes

Remember–seeking help early can make all the difference.

Why Support Systems Are Essential

• Emotional Stability. Having a solid support system helps individuals feel heard, understood, and valued during their recovery journey.

• Practical Guidance. Whether it’s help managing triggers, finding healthy coping strategies, or staying committed to sobriety, support from therapists, recovery coaches, and mentors can provide vital tools for success.

• Accountability. Having people who check in regularly reduces the risk of relapse. Support systems reinforce positive behaviours and encourage consistency in the recovery process.

• Long-Term Success. Studies show that individuals who engage in support groups and therapy are significantly more likely to maintain long-term sobriety than those who try to recover alone.

When to Seek Professional Help

Understanding the stages of addiction and recovery is helpful, but recognising when to seek professional help can be difficult, especially with denial often playing a huge part in the process. 

Many people believe they can stop on their own or that their behaviour “isn’t that bad.” However, addiction is a progressive condition, meaning it typically gets worse over time if left untreated.

If you or someone you love is struggling, ask yourself these critical questions:

Has substance use or addictive behaviour become uncontrollable?

Is it negatively impacting health, relationships, or finances?

Have previous attempts to quit been unsuccessful?

If the answer is yes to any of these questions, it’s time to seek professional help.

Begin Your Road to Recovery with The Cabin Chiang Mai

Addiction doesn’t have to define your future. Seeking help early increases the chances of long-term success, making recovery smoother and more sustainable. If you or a loved one is struggling, remember:

We’ve helped thousands achieve lasting recovery by blending Western therapy with Eastern mindfulness and holistic therapies. Our expert team includes internationally trained specialists who provide evidence-based care for substance abuse, trauma, and mental health. 

At our clinic, you can train Muay Thai fighting, engage in art therapy, take exciting excursions into the mountains of Northern Thailand, and spend your downtime eating delicious local food and relaxing at our spa. It’s a recovery experience, unlike anything you can get back home.

If you’re considering rehab, reach out for your free intake assessment. We want to get you help even if it’s not at our facility. We will find something near you at a price you can afford.