What are the four stages of addiction?

The four stages of addiction are accurately represented in the choice that outlines experimentation, regular use, risky use, and dependence. These stages provide a framework for understanding how individuals may progress from casual engagement with a substance or behavior to a more serious and entrenched addiction.

In the first stage, experimentation refers to initial encounters with a substance, often characterized by curiosity or social influence. As individuals transition into regular use, they may start to incorporate the substance into their routine, which can lead to patterns of consumption that are more predictable.

The risky use stage highlights a critical turning point where an individual's consumption becomes more problematic. During this stage, the consequences of use become apparent, but the individual may still engage in the behavior despite experiencing negative outcomes. This can include physical, legal, or social repercussions.

Finally, the dependence stage marks the culmination of the addiction process. At this point, individuals exhibit tolerance to the substance, experience withdrawal symptoms, and have developed a psychological or physical reliance on it. This progression illustrates how addiction can evolve over time, emphasizing the importance of intervention as early as the risky use stage to prevent further complications.

In contrast, other choices focus on different terminologies or lack the comprehensive outline of stages necessary to accurately depict the progression toward addiction. The