Understanding The Addiction Cycle and How To Break Free
Gaining Clarity on the Stages of Addiction and Effective Treatment Solutions
Breaking The Cycle of Addiction Starts Here
Substance use disorder is a cyclical challenge. Maybe it began as an experiment, a “one-time only” experience, or even a doctor-prescribed temporary measure. But far sooner than you think, a seemingly harmless action or temporary relief born out of desperation turns into something far more ugly.
Now, you feel you need it and feel sick when you don’t have it. It controls your thoughts and your actions and limits your potential. Substance dependence and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms are what fuel the cycle of substance abuse, making it harder and harder to escape.
It’s time to break the cycle of addiction and restore healthy functioning in your life. You and your loved ones are worth it. Your future is counting on it. When you don’t know where to turn or what to do, the answers are here. The empowering support you need is just beyond a single step in the right direction.
Alcohol and substance use disorders affect more than 48 million Americans, according to recent data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).[1]
Substances that have a high risk of dependence can alter normal brain structure and function and promote the transition from controlled use to chronic misuse.[2] In some cases, this alteration can remain long after alcohol or drug use has ended.
When dependence takes hold, the cycle of addiction is ignited and can induce cravings triggered by people, places, things, or events linked to substance use.[3] If you desire a safer, healthier existence, this deadly cycle can leave you feeling frustrated and hopeless, which in turn can influence further substance use—even when these patterns adversely affect your health, relationships, and family.
What Are The Various Stages of Substance Abuse and The Addiction Cycle?
Most people don’t take up alcohol or other substance use with the intention of misuse. But it is the substances themselves that change this dynamic and maintain the cycle of drug addiction. Here is the three-pronged cycle of addiction:[4]
Binge and Intoxication
Whether from experimentation, prescription, peer pressure, recreation, or thrill, this stage is when the incentive to use is triggered, and drug-seeking behavior is activated. Not everyone who uses substances will progress to the next phase of the cycle, but certain substances are more addictive than others, which can increase the likelihood of developing an alcohol or drug dependence.
The DEA classifies all controlled substances into five categories, Schedule I through Schedule V. Schedule I substances have no accepted medical use and represent a high potential for abuse, which decreases in severity to Schedule V substances.[5] Schedule I addictive substances (heroin, marijuana, LSD, etc.) will affect your brain and body differently than Schedule 5 addictive substances (Motofen, Lyrica, etc.)
Withdrawal or Negative Affect
As your body eliminates a substance that your body or brain is dependent on, negative withdrawal symptoms (physical and emotional) will present, initiating a stress response. In times of stress, alcohol and other substances can seem like a relief from the discomfort but actually serve to further entrench dependence.
Preoccupation and Anticipation of Use
A key withdrawal symptom is cravings for the substance. Due to altered brain chemistry, executive function may be compromised, decreasing your ability to make a clear, informed, healthy decision and potentially leading to relapse.
If uninterrupted, this cycle will be repeated. Once relapse occurs, this is the reactivation of the binge and intoxication stage, igniting the brain reward circuitry and resetting the addiction cycle to repeat indefinitely.
So, How Do You Break An Addiction? How Can You Restore Balance?
There is much confusion and shame surrounding alcohol and substance use disorder. But you don’t have to do it alone. Get the professional help and support you need to address and overcome this deadly cycle by uncovering your root cause and rebuilding on a fresh foundation. At Crestone Wellness, this is what recovery looks like:
Crestone Wellness is a holistic treatment center focusing on healing from within and fostering abundance during recovery. To address harmful addictive behaviors at the root case, we offer a wide range of evidence-based therapies and wellness interventions:
Break Free of The Addiction Cycle With Crestone Wellness
We understand the challenges you face in the midst of alcohol or substance use disorder. Our fully customized treatment programs offer a holistic approach to healing that is designed specifically for you, employing a number of evidence-based treatment options.
Our Austin-area substance abuse treatment center will collaborate with you to meet your unique needs. We aim to shine a light on the hidden influences of drug or alcohol use outside of chemical dependence and reveal a clear path forward to healing.
Here, you will enjoy our state-of-the-art amenities in a safe and serene environment where you’re plugged into a recovering, thriving community. We advance holistic healing by incorporating traditional and alternative treatments, including Psychotherapy, Somatic Experiencing, mindfulness, yoga, and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Recovery and The Addiction Cycle
How does the addiction cycle impact mental health over time?
Substance use disorder and addiction are commonly associated with several mental health disorders, including anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, and more. [6]
What are the risk factors for addiction?
Some risk factors for substance use disorder and addiction include childhood abuse, a family history of substance use, peer pressure, environmental factors like socioeconomic status, mental health disorders, genetic markers, misuse of OTC or prescription medications, or alcohol or substance use at a young age.[7]
How does the brain change during the addiction cycle?
Drug and alcohol addiction can have a severe impact on the brain. Substance use disorder is associated with reduced executive functioning, a negatively altered reward system, mood dysregulation, and increased brain stress.[8]
Sources
[1]U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2016). Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/press-announcements/20231113/hhs-samhsa-release-2022-nsduh-data
[2][3][8]Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US), & Office of the Surgeon General (US). (2016). Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424849/
[4]Koob, G. F., & Volkow, N. D. (2016). Neurobiology of addiction: a neurocircuitry analysis. Lancet Psychiatry, 3(8), 760-773. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6135092/
[5]United States Drug Enforcement Administration. (n.d.). Drug Scheduling. Retrieved from https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling
[6][7]Alhammad, M., Aljedani, R., Alsaleh, M., Atyia, N., Alsmakh, M., Alfaraj, A., Alkhunaizi, A., Alwabari, J., & Alzaidi, M. (2022). Family, Individual, and Other Risk Factors Contributing to Risk of Substance Abuse in Young Adults: A Narrative Review. Cureus, 14(12), e32316. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9731175/
