Stages of Change
People in this stage may wish to change, but for the immediate future have no plans to do so.
Precontemplation
A return to a state of illness after a period of being healthy, “disease-free,” without symptoms, or in a state of remission.
Relapse
We admitted we were powerless over alcohol—that our lives had become unmanageable.
Step 1
Compounds in this substance act on the same parts in the brain as THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana but can have strong, more detrimental effects including paranoia, anxiety and hallucinations.
Spice, K2
Helping an addicted person do things they can or should be doing for themselves; causes disease progression
Enabling
People in this stage are getting ready to take action. They are more decisive, confident and committed; they’re developing a plan and may have already taken small steps.
Preparation
Refraining from further drug use.
Abstinence
Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Step 8
This drug creates an immediate high that quickly fades. As a result, users often take it repeatedly, making it extremely addictive.
Methamphetamines
These are traits that usually were developed early and served the addict and alcoholic as a means of survival.
Character Defects
Individuals in this stage have managed to stay in Action mode for at least six months.
Maintenance
The effort to prove that our behaviors are valid or reasonable (examples include celebrations, boredom or "I've been clean long enough to do it just once."
Justification
Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Step 2
It triggers your brain to release dopamine and creates a euphoric feeling. The high is intense but short-lived, which leads people to use it repeatedly to try to keep the feeling going.
Side effects can include:
Increased heart rate, nosebleeds, stroke
Cocaine
The voluntary use of drugs without experiencing any negative social or legal consequences. Often the first stage in addiction.
Experimentation
People in this stage are thinking about taking action, but aren’t quite ready or don’t know how to get started.
Contemplation
The acronym H.A.L.T stands for:
Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired
Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
Step 10
This designer drug is similar to bath salts.The drug has a stimulant-like effect but can cause paranoia, hallucinations, and can lead to violence or self-harm.
Flakka
This is a symptom that an alcoholic or addict is still suffering, and has not yet given themselves over to their Higher Power.
Denial
Beyond just thinking about it or preparing to act, a person in this phase has actually begun doing something (or a lot of things) differently, and may be experimenting with expanding his or her efforts.
Action
To hold on to the possibility of returning to the behavior if necessary, or under the "right" circumstances (ex. keeping old contact phone numbers)
Reservations
Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
Step 8
This drug increases levels of several chemicals in the brain, including serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. It alters your mood and makes you feel closer and more connected to others. Users get a sense of euphoria and a boost in energy.
Ecstasy
The period of early sobriety, usually for the first three to six months, is typically very happy.
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