The Different Stages of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is considered the most prevalent addiction in America, with more than 12 million alcoholics and counting. It has also been found that Americans spend about $197 million a day just on alcohol. Knowing the different stages of profound alcoholism can help greatly in curbing the addiction.

Stage 1: The Adaptive Stage– This plateau is the subsequent stage from ‘normal’ drinking. In this stage, the individual is resorting to drinking as a means of escaping reality, away from inhibitions, problems, and fears. By this time, patients have developed an increasingly large tolerance to alcohol, as well as physical changes which may go unseen for a while.

Stage 2: Problem Drinking– The term “problem drinker” refers to an individual who begins to feel the impact of his/her drinking habit. A problem drinker is more depressed and anxious, and is also likely to lose sleep.

Stage 3: Dependence– As the drinker continues the habit, his body has grown to drink larger quantities of alcohol that he feels uncomfortable when he’s not drinking. By this stage, an individual may not be able to stop drinking after taking his first swig.

Stage 4: Addiction– By this stage, the individual feels a strong physical and psychological urge to drink, regardless of whether it’s for pleasure or not⁴. An individual in this stage is considered a full-blown alcoholic since he already physically craves the substance; often desolate until he starts drinking again.