Stages and symptoms of Alcoholism or Drug Use Disorder

 “Addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive substance seeking and use, despite harmful consequences”- (WHO). Addiction is also a progressive disease. It grows step by step, even without the user noticing its growth until it becomes totally unmanageable. The first symptom of developing addiction is tolerance, which is requirement for needing more quantity of substance to get the same effect Addiction progresses gradually and steadily. This may develop as a process, if no intervention is made to stay away from substances. The following pictures show its progressive nature:
In the phase 1, the priorities in life remains does not get affected much allthough, the person start using alcohol or drugs ocasionally.
In phase 2, the priorities in life gets affected considerably, but still continues to take substance.
In the phase 3, the entire priorities in life give way for substance and the person is fully addicted to the substance.
The progression of Alcoholism: (Stages and Symptoms)
Four stages of progression:
Experimental,
Regular,
Chronic, Addiction
Early Stages:
Increased Tolerance
Blackout
Preoccupation with Drinking
Avoiding discussion about drinking
Middle Stages:
Loss of Control
Giving Excuses for drinking
Grandiose and aggressive behavior
Unsuccessful attempts to control by changing the drinking pattern
Abstaining from alcohol a set period of time.
Chronic stage:
Binge drinking
Acute withdrawal syndromes
Physical and psychological deterioration
Ethical breakdown
Total shift of priorities in life
Drug Use Disorder (Progression through Use, Abuse and Addiction):
Drug Use: Intake of drugs to treat an illness, prevent a disease, or improve health condition     
Drug abuse: Intake of drugs for reasons other than medical in a manner that affects physical or mental functioning
Drug Addiction: Physical and Psychological dependency over a particular substance