What is the path of addiction sequence?

Answer 1

Referring to the pattern that addiction follows in most cases:

1. the addict has the first experience with a substance or behavior that fills a need, and it is a "feel good" experience that they begin to crave more of. This could be years before they actually begin to suffer the effects of addiction, but is known as the "qualifying event". An example would be a child is upset, angry, feeling an extreme sadness of some kind and goes to the medicine cabinet in an act of rebellion, takes an old prescription of a narcotic, and instantly feels a certain "relief" or "euphoria" taking the pill(s). That experience is saturated in the part of the brain that recognizes such feelings, and stored away. Since addiction is considered a brain disorder and not something that a person "acquires", that experience simply starts the sequence that will ultimately take their life.

2. At some point, be it hours or years, the addict returns to that particular experience- and tries to replicate it. They might take someone else's medication from their medicine cabinet (using the previous mentioned example as a sort of "road map"), thereby replicating the experience , and again, it proves to be a "feel good" time that, in the addict's mind, is going to solve whatever problem or feeling they want to get rid of, even though they know that the drug or behavior is considered harmful or contraindicated. At this point, however, their life has not been affected.

3. The behavior or substance continues to be sought after- and the life of the addict begins to reflect the time and energy it takes to seek out that "addiction". Now enters the part of addiction where denial, rationalizing, manipulating others to get that drug or to continue the behavior and minimizing the effect the behavior is having on their life and those they love, and the structure of the addict's life begins to crumble.

Their education, relationships, daily living, financial situation, and many other aspects of one's life are affected in a negative way. The addict often times cannot SEE how dire the circumstances are becoming, although during this part of their journey they might have what is called a "window of clarity", where they suddenly discover or see clearly what is happening to them, and desperately want help to change it, knowing they cannot do it alone. Many addicts try and attempt to "fix" their problems with substances or destructive behaviors on their own, and as they say in the 12 step programs, ":your best ideas, your best intentions got you to where you are today"".

Addiction is the only disease that TELLS YOU THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A DISEASE.

Even with tangible, undisputed proof that this addiction is killing the addict, they continue with their denial- rationalizing, minimizing, and even blaming their problems on o thers.

4. The addict has a window of clarity as mentioned prior, and they may seek help at this point. It is VERY important that at this time, anyone whom is close to the addict do anything they can to engage them in treatment.

*** (please look up "enabling" if you are close to an addict, because there is a difference between trying to help your loved one engage in treatment versus enabling them to do so)***'

Often times, helping an addict involves treating them in a way that is not natural- such as asking them to leave your home, or firing them from their job so they don't have an income with which to use drugs. Unlike other diseases and disorders, "helping" an addict often times does NOT feel good, nor does it feel as if you are helping, until they are in active recovery.

5. If the addict DOES engage in recovery- then the disorder is put into "remission" like any other disease or disorder. It does not, however, become "cured". Similar to cancer or Diabetes, it is something that cannot go unchecked. Addiction is a life long disease, and even those who have been abstinent for 20 or more years can, at any time, and for any reason, "relapse"/

RELAPSE- a return to active use of the behavior or drug that was harming the individual- despite the consequences and negative experiences that accompany whatever "good feeling" the drug or behavior provides the addict.

Relapse is very common at this point in the addiction cycle, and often times although it can be deadly and incredibly harmful, if the person lives through it, can be incredibly potent in keeping the addict back in recovery- inspiring them to not relapse again. If the relapse is processed with trained professionals in a supportive setting, the addict can grow and learn from it.

6. Sustained recovery is the goal of any addict emerging from addiction. If this is not reached, the addict will either relapse, continuing the cycle or eventually lose their life to the addiction or the effects of it. thereby ending the "sequence" or cycle. (such as using IV heroin, the addict might not die from an overdose , but they could die from HIV contracted from their use and abuse of IV heroin by sharing dirty needles)