Does every drug user become addicted?

What is the relationship between sporadic substance use and the onset of addiction?

Does substance use irremediably lead to addiction? No. A person will become addicted if and only if certain conditions or variables are present that allow the development of an addiction.

We will talk about addiction when we talk about dependence. This implies that the person relates to a substance based on a need. He needs to consume and if there is no substance he becomes distressed, irritated and suffers withdrawal symptoms. Let's see this in more detail.

The relationship between consumption and addictions.

Let's imagine a staircase with three steps. Each step is of a different color. On the first, green, we have substance use. In this case we are talking about simple, non-problematic, sporadic use. This is not difficult in the short or long term and does not have very serious consequences..

The second step, yellow in color, alerts us. It is about substance abuse which refers to a more complicated use. We can already think of an excess, a lack of control and the setting of limits. It may be an occasional but excessive use. The substance abuser, after consumption, will observe some difficulties and unpleasant consequences. From drinking too much alcohol and making a mess to causing an accident.

Finally, on the red, higher step, we place the most problematic consumption, which is addiction or dependence. The object of the addiction becomes a priority in the person's life.. The need to consume leads the person to perform acts that in other circumstances he/she would not do otherwise. They think about using all day long, work to use, or steal to use; in short, the addict lives to use. The consequences are serious, on a personal (physical and psychological), work, family, social or legal level. Initiating treatment at this stage is essential.

As we mentioned at the beginning not all those who make a simple use of a substance will pass to worse levels, i.e., not all users will become addicts.That is to say, not every user will be addicted.

If the substance user goes up a step, he will transform his simple use into something that is close to excess and risky. And if he goes one step higher, he will find himself trapped in himself, in his need to consume no matter what.

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The ladder... unidirectional?

A person can stay on the first rung without having problems related to using. Or climb to the second rung and stay there, having occasional problems of excess and lack of control.Or he or she can keep moving up and reach the top. That is the path of addiction, gradually ascending, so that consumption is necessarily increasing. That is the ascending path.

Regarding the descent, in the recovery of an addiction there are different theories and models. On the one hand we have the risk and harm reduction modelwhich will help a person who has decided to consume to do so in the most responsible and careful way possible, without seeking abstinence as a goal.

From this model it can be thought that a person who has reached the level of addiction will be able to descend to the step of abuse and try to moderate it, and may even reach the first step, sustaining a simple and responsible use of substances.

On the other hand, abstentionist models models hold that those who have reached the addiction level and decide to recover cannot use again, even moderately. Doing so could mean losing control again and restarting the path to addiction. Therefore, following the idea of the ladder, an addict should not go down to the second or first step. He or she should not even approach or flirt with consumption.

Conclusion

So, abstinence yes or no? As each case is unique, the recovery strategy will vary depending on the characteristics of the individuals and the type of bond they have established. and the type of bond they have established with substances. Therefore, there is no single method or model valid for all cases of people with problematic substance use. That is why the direction of the ladder will be defined by each individual.