Understanding the Stages of Substance Abuse Recovery

You’ve probably heard of the stages of grief before, but have you ever heard of the stages of substance abuse recovery? Breaking something like recovery down into stages can help someone going through it feel more at ease. Stages are more manageable than one sweeping strategy. Plus, you’ll be able to track your progress and see how far you’ve come. 

With that in mind, what exactly are the stages of substance abuse recovery? The more you know about them, the easier it will be to keep moving forward on your journey to complete sobriety. 

Treatment Initiation

The first stage of recovery is treatment initiation – the beginning step in a lifelong process. Treatment initiation, in many ways, can also be the hardest step. It requires acknowledgment that you’re struggling with a problem and you need help. That isn’t always easy to do, especially if you’ve been an addict or involved in substance abuse for years. 

Getting help from a professional rehab program is a huge milestone, and it can feel overwhelming at first. Whether you choose an inpatient or outpatient program, the first several days will be difficult. You might start to second guess yourself or feel too weak in your convictions to stick with the program.

A therapist or counselor will work with you to help you become an active participant in treatment. Not only will you recover from the damage that addiction can cause, but you’ll find different motivations for recovery. 

Early Abstinence

Making a commitment to recovery is only the first step. Early abstinence is next and includes ridding your body of the substances, and avoiding them, completely.

However, this isn’t easy since your mind and body are both used to having whatever drugs and/or alcohol you were abusing. And getting rid of those things may also make your withdrawal symptoms last longer. You might also experience cravings, or tempting triggers, especially if you’re in an outpatient program. 

This treatment stage will help you learn different coping mechanisms to help you deal with those cravings and triggers. They might include forming healthier habits, understanding and avoiding your triggers, or joining support groups of people who are struggling with the same things. 

Maintaining Abstinence 

Early abstinence lasts for about 90 days before you move into the maintaining stage. This is the stage that will allow you to get back into the real world and use what you’ve learned to avoid a relapse. As you maintain abstinence, your focus should be on forming healthy relationships, practicing self-care, and understanding what a drug-free lifestyle looks like for you. 

Maintaining abstinence doesn’t mean you’re done with your recovery program. Most people in substance abuse programs continue with some type of counseling on a regular basis. Counseling typically lasts for several years or until you’re comfortable and confident with a clean and sober lifestyle. 

Advanced Recovery

The maintaining abstinence phase is the longest one in the recovery process. It lasts about five years before you’ll finally move on to advanced recovery. Most people during this stage stop counseling or going to support groups. Instead, they take everything they’ve learned and use those skills to move forward with their drug-free life.

However, that doesn't mean the triggers disappear. It just means you know how to cope with them. 

Still, it's a good idea to develop strategies to help you move forward at this stage. These can include creating long-term goals and finding fulfillment in life. Some people do that through religion, others through things like activism or volunteering. Being sober allows you to rediscover your passions and bring them to life. 

It’s never too late to recover from substance abuse. Does it take time? Yes. Does it take a lot of effort? Absolutely. But understanding these stages will make you realize it's doable, and an exciting and happy life waits for you on the other side. 

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