Answer by Candice Garrun

The use of drugs and alcohol does not just happen. Some people will never ever use an addictive substance in their life, others may do so and will go through life as social drinkers or recreational drug users, others may abuse drugs and for some drug and alcohol use will become addictive. Dependency on alcohol and drugs does not occur instantaneously and the process from initial drug use to the final stages of dependency/addiction is developmental.

There are several stages involved in the progression of substance use from the stage where one is considered a social drinker/recreational drug user to the final stage where one is considered an alcoholic or drug addict. These are outlined below: