Breaking the Cycle of Addiction

Becoming addicted to a substance, whether it’s alcohol, opiates, or something else, isn’t something anyone ever plans to do. However, once substance use occurs, it can quickly lead to repeated use, dependence, and eventual addiction. Without the right support, even the most courageous attempts to abstain from the substance can lead to a relapse, which is often psychologically and emotionally scarring for the person concerned.

By understanding the cycle of addiction and the right strategies for breaking that cycle, you can know what steps to take if you or a loved one are suffering due to substance use or dependence.

What is the Cycle of Addiction?

The cycle of addiction has five different stages: Initial use, continued use or abuse, tolerance, addiction, and relapse. Repeated relapses can be detrimental to a person’s self-image and esteem, leading them to believe that they can’t beat addiction or that there is something fundamentally wrong with them. However, in most cases, they’ve become trapped in the cycle — without the right support to break free.

Addiction must be approached with compassion, as it is a recognized brain disease — not a reflection of someone’s character. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, addiction is a “treatable, chronic medical disease” impacted by brain chemistry, genetics, social, and environmental factors. [1] Professional addiction recovery treatment addresses all these factors where relevant, with medication, therapy, and various support functions to help interrupt the cycle.

Let’s take a look at each of the five stages of the addiction cycle in more detail.

Stage One: Substance Use

The initial use of a substance means the first time someone takes it. This can be the first beer or the first use of prescribed opiates — there’s nothing to say that substance use always starts with illicit drugs.

There are many reasons people may take a variety of substances, and some may never lead to addiction. Social drinking is very common, particularly for celebrations or as part of work and social bonding events. However, alcohol abuse is a serious problem that can stem from innocuous roots. In the United States, stats from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) show that alcohol addiction or alcohol use disorder impacts at least 28.9 million people over the age of 12. [2]

Prescription opiates are also common but can lead to serious drug addiction, plus they’re highly dangerous. If someone can no longer obtain the prescription drugs they’ve become addicted to, they may turn to an illegal source. Sadly, many unscrupulous criminals mix the potent painkiller fentanyl into other opiates. In Georgia, this has led to a sharp increase in drug overdoses since 2020. [3]

If someone does decide to try illicit substances, this can be due to reasons ranging from grief to underlying mental health issues. For example, a very depressed person may have heard that heroin can make someone forget about their troubles. In some cases, a person may have been under intense peer pressure to try a highly addictive substance.

Stage Two: Substance Abuse

The next stage of the addiction cycle is increased use or substance abuse. Substance use disorders often develop because the individual starts to use the substance more over time. The substance makes the person feel good in some way. For example, some opiates encourage the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, the brain’s reward for completing tasks. [4] If a person is struggling with aspects of their life that mean their dopamine levels are low, they may particularly enjoy these feelings. However, as they use these substances more, they require higher doses to trigger the same euphoric feelings. Drug abuse inevitably leads to stage three of the addiction cycle.

Stage Three: Tolerance and Dependence

In this way, needing higher doses of a substance indicates that someone is developing a tolerance. This is commonly seen with alcohol, where someone may once have felt drunk after two glasses of wine but can now drink two bottles without feeling disoriented. Unfortunately, this level of tolerance can also indicate a dependence on the substance. If that person can’t wait to have a glass of wine after work, for example, that could indicate dependence, which is the first sign of addiction.

Stage Four: Addiction

Addiction means that the person has become dependent on the substance to the point at which its removal could cause distress. Several features, including cravings, changes in behavior, and emotional upheaval, categorize this disease.

If the need for the substance is not satisfied, the individual may start to experience withdrawal symptoms. These vary from substance to substance but may cause the person to have shakes, sweat, feel sick, or even be in pain. [5]

Stage Five: Relapse

Once someone has recognized that they are suffering from a substance use disorder, they may attempt to detox without the necessary assistance. While some people are capable of achieving this, for others, this can lead to relapse. The side effects of withdrawal can be too much for some people to handle without support — and that’s not a personal failing. Depending on the substance, detoxing without medical supervision can also be dangerous, as serious complications such as seizures and hallucinations are possible.[6] Medically supported addiction treatment is available because experts know it’s incredibly difficult to beat addiction alone.

Relapse means that the person starts using the substance again. They may feel particularly ashamed about this, which could prevent them from reaching out for help. Those feelings of shame and regret can lead them further into the addiction cycle.

Strategies for Breaking Free from the Cycle of Addiction

Breaking addiction cycles is the key, for many people, to beginning addiction recovery and, in time, returning to a fulfilling life. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that the stigma surrounding addiction is what can prevent people from reaching out for help.[7] However, understanding that there are compassionate services out there can empower people to take the next step and take action to break the destructive cycle of addiction.

Medical Detox

Medical detoxification or detox means ensuring the body is free from problematic substances and normally takes place at a treatment center. Effective detoxification requires medical supervision to support a potentially distressed client and provide relevant medications such as painkillers or anti-sickness treatments.

Some facilities focus on outpatient treatment, where the client may visit the center but ultimately stay in their own home throughout the process. However, there is a higher chance of relapse during the periods when the individual doesn’t have medical support.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

There are numerous treatment options for addiction, including many talking therapies, either done on a one-to-one basis or in specialist support groups. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, or CBT, is an evidence-based psychological treatment focused on reframing negative or self-defeating thoughts.

A CBT therapist will combine talking sessions with activities like journaling and may suggest different techniques for identifying negative thoughts and reducing stress.

Holistic Therapies

Effective substance abuse treatment doesn’t have to focus on one single strategy. Holistic treatments look at a client’s overall well-being and how to promote general wellness, including interrupting the addiction cycle.

Treatment centers that promote creativity, meditation, mindfulness, physical activity suited to the individual, and the opportunity to access nature may promote more positive outcomes for their clients.

Support from Family and Professional Detox and Addiction Recovery Specialists

The addiction treatment process is so much easier with support from the right people. It helps to have loved ones to lean on. A supportive peer group can help someone struggling with addiction by letting them know they’re not alone and helping them find the right support.

However, family and friends alone can’t offer the specialist treatment required to help a person detox safely and in comfort and the ongoing support required to prevent relapse and break the addiction cycle. The most effective treatment programs include family and loved ones, supporting everyone impacted by the addiction and helping them understand the best ways to support the individual.

Identifying Root Causes of Addiction

Addiction can affect anyone, but some people may have more risk factors than others. Someone who has experienced childhood trauma, for example, may have a harder time saying “No” when offered substances that can lead to relapse. A trained addiction recovery specialist can investigate the potential causes of addictive behavior and offer bespoke support that helps encourage positive actions and cope with challenging situations better.

Break the Cycle of Addiction and Rediscover Life

Drug dependence and addiction are possible to beat with support from experts who understand how to interrupt the addiction cycle. There’s never a point where it’s too late to take action. Whether it’s the first signs of substance abuse, dependence, or the fear of a relapse, with compassionate and medically informed support, it’s possible to beat addiction and rediscover a happy, fulfilling life.