Addiction has managed to infiltrate and devastate people from all walks of life and from all communities in America and Shoreline, WA is no exception. Addiction is a mental illness, one which requires professional treatment to overcome its deadly and progressive symptoms. If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction issues, get help today.

What Are the Stages of Addiction?

There are four recognized stages of addiction. These are experimentation, ongoing use, dangerous use, and addiction. Some people progress from stage one to stage four extremely quickly, which is to say within the span of a mere few events. Others may spend a lifetime yo-yoing between two stages and never really progress to addiction.

It can be difficult to identify one stage or another, especially if you are only seeing or know about certain instances. One thing to look for with regards to stage four, addiction, is a loss of control over one’s ability to control amount or what is used. Continuing to use despite negative consequences is another clear sign of a problem with substance abuse. If you are concerned about someone, talk to a professional interventionist to learn how to best proceed.

What Constitutes Aftercare?

Aftercare refers to the continued care program after a given phase of treatment. If a person is in a detox facility it most likely refers to inpatient rehab. Inpatient rehab is the best method of addressing and properly treating different aspects of addiction. After inpatient treatment, aftercare refers to outpatient rehab treatment, sober living, or, ideally, both. The best treatment includes all four methods of treatment, starting with detox and ending with a combination of sober living and outpatient care. Adjusting to life in sobriety is not easy. Drugs and alcohol were used as a coping mechanism for stressors that the person must face again when he or she gets out of treatment. It is best to start at the highest level of support and monitoring, such as detox and inpatient rehab, and slowly work down. At this pace people are given the support and guidance necessary to adapt to the increasing amount of accessibility and exposure to triggers and stressors, which exist in everyday life.

12-step programs such as AA and NA prove the best method for treating the disease of addiction. Millions of people worldwide have recovered from using and found a better way to live with the help of the 12-steps. If you suffer from addiction in Shoreline, WA, find a meeting in your area and get connected to a sober community today.