The 4 Stages of Alcoholism

Alcohol addiction doesn’t occur overnight. Most people who struggle with this condition progress through multiple stages of alcoholism until they get the help they need. Being able to recognize the signs, symptoms, and stages of alcoholism can empower you to make the best choices for yourself or to offer the most meaningful support to someone whose life has been disrupted by compulsive alcohol use.

Define Alcoholism

Alcohol use disorder, which is the clinical term for alcoholism, is a behavioral health disorder that is characterized by loss of control over how often or how much a person drinks. 

To meet the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder as established in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a person must exhibit at least two of the following symptoms within a period of 12 months:

• Using alcohol in larger amounts or over a longer period of time than intended
• Having a persistent desire to limit their alcohol use, but being unable to do so
• Spending a considerable amount of time acquiring, using, and recovering from the effects of alcohol
• Experiencing powerful cravings for alcohol
• Failing to fulfill their responsibilities at home, in school, or at work as a result of their alcohol use
• Continuing to drink after experiencing social or relationship problems as a result of prior alcohol use
• Continuing to drink after incurring physical or psychological damage due to previous alcohol use
• Ending or reducing their participation in activities that had been important to them because of their alcohol use
• Frequently using alcohol in circumstances where it is clearly dangerous to do so, such as prior to driving or when using other substances
• Developing tolerance, which means that they need to use larger amounts of alcohol to achieve the effects they are seeking
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms, which can include both physical and psychological distress, when trying to end their alcohol use

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), about 28.8 million American adults met the criteria for a diagnosis of alcohol use disorder in 2022. This total includes more than 17 million men and more than 11 million women.

What are the 4 Stages of Alcoholism?

The stages of alcoholism aren’t defined in the DSM-5, but many experts use the following four stages to describe process of developing this disorder: 

1. Pre-alcoholism: This stage includes occasional binge drinking and other forms of heavy social alcohol abuse. During the pre-alcoholism stage, people may begin to use the substance as a means of improving their mood or dealing with stress.
2. Early alcoholism: This is the time when drinking shifts from a primarily social behavior to a compulsion. People at the early stage may start to hide how often and how much they drink. They may also begin to experience more frequent blackouts, hangovers, and other negative effects.
3. Middle alcoholism: At the middle stage, it becomes virtually impossible for people to ignore or hide the effects of their drinking. The damage to their relationships, performance at work, and both physical and mental health can become overwhelming. They may try to end or reduce their drinking, but discover that they are unable to stop.
4. Late alcoholism: Also sometimes known as end-stage or full-blown alcoholism, this period is marked by a loss of any remaining control. People at this stage often feel compelled to drink throughout the day. Job loss, financial devastation, significant physical and psychological harm, and isolation are common characteristics of late alcoholism 

Is There Treatment for These Stages of Alcoholism?

One of the many unfortunately persistent myths about alcoholism is that a person has to hit “rock bottom” before they can benefit from alcohol rehab. This is simply not true. You don’t need to incur catastrophic damage in any area of your life in order to begin your recovery. All you need to do is acknowledge that you have a problem and agree to get help.

The type of treatment that will be most beneficial to you can vary depending on a host of personal factors, such as:

• Your age and gender
• How much (and how frequently) you’ve been drinking
• Which stages of alcoholism you have progressed through
• If you also have a co-occurring mental health disorder
• If you have previously received treatment for alcoholism and/or a mental illness

When you choose a reputable treatment provider, one of your first activities will likely be to complete a thorough intake assessment. Based on the information that’s gathered during this evaluation, your care may include one or more of the following programs:

• Detox
• Residential rehab
• Partial hospitalization program (PHP)
• Intensive outpatient program (IOP)
• Outpatient treatment

Some people benefit from spending time in several or all of the programs listed above. Others may only need to participate in one or two levels of care. There is no single perfect path to recovery. What matters most is finding the care that addresses the full scope of your unique needs.

Stages of Recovery From Alcoholism

As with the development of alcoholism, recovery is also a process. For many people, recovery occurs in the following stages:

• Contemplation: This is the time when people begin to consider that they may have a problem, though they are hesitant to seek help. They understand that the can benefit from getting treatment, but they have not yet fully acknowledged the scope of their problem and the damage it is causing.
• Preparation: This is the stage at which a person accepts that their alcohol use has become problematic. They may try to quit drinking on their own or take other steps to improve their health. They may begin to seriously consider getting professional help, but they’re not quite ready to enter a program yet.
• Action: At this stage, people begin to make meaningful changes in their life. They fully understand that they have a serious problem that they can’t solve on their own. They may join an AA group, start seeing a counselor or therapist, complete detox, and/or enter a treatment program. 
• Maintenance: Recovery is a lifelong effort. During the maintenance stage, a person’s focus may be on honing their relapse-prevention skills, following their aftercare program, remaining active in their support group, and otherwise engaging in the day-to-day work of maintaining their sobriety.

Contact Our Treatment Center for Alcoholism in Palm Springs, California

If you’ve been struggling to escape the downward spiral of compulsive alcohol abuse, Phoenix Rising Recovery can help. Our alcoholism treatment center in Palm Springs, California, is a welcoming and supportive place where adults at all stages of alcoholism can receive life-affirming care from a team of highly skilled professionals.

At Phoenix Rising Recovery, we understand that alcoholism affects different people in different ways, and we are committed to providing a truly personalized experience to each person who turns to us in their time of need. We’ll work closely with you to assess your needs and identify your goals, then we’ll develop an individualized plan to help you end your alcohol use and build a healthier life in recovery.

When you’re ready to get started, the Phoenix Rising Recovery team is here for you. To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Contact page or call our center today.