It is a well-established fact that addiction is a disease and a progressive one at that. The disease can be broadly classified into three different stages: Early stage, Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre in Delhimiddle stage, and late stage. Each stage is characterized by certain behaviors and cognitive mechanisms. In addiction recovery, the client and family are helped to identify the current stage of addiction the client is currently in. Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre in New DelhiFamilies approach de-addiction treatment centers usually in the last stage.

In the early stage, the individual begins to sneak drinks/drugs. Alcohol Rehabilitation centre in NoidaHe also becomes preoccupied with alcohol/drugs and spends time thinking of ways to obtain, use or hide his substance abuse. Then in what is popularly called "chasing the high", he begins to change his consumption pattern by gulping the drink fast instead of sipping it or using other ways to speed up the drug intake, for example, injecting directly. He will also start avoiding referencesto his use and start to experience memory blackouts. These blackouts render him incapable of remembering certain incidents or periods while he was under the influence. This in turn is indicative of increased drug tolerance. Well-wishers may suggest drug and alcohol de-addiction center’s as a preventative measure. Next, he will also begin to feel the need to use it before and after social occasions.

In the middle stage, the user experiences a loss of control over his use. The value system begins to get affected, along with an increased frequency of relief drinking/using there is dishonesty about the use and its consequences. The user will try to come up with different ways to hide or lie about using. Often others are also made to lie to protect him against the consequences of his use. Due to his loss of control, he tries periods of forced abstinence or attempts to change geographical location to bring use under control but they are not successful. Others around him disapprove of his use. Aggression and rationalization are common. In alcohol de-addiction treatment the cognitive distortions, such as rationalization, minimizing, and diverting are addressed. This is often part of a greater problem of denial, which is a primitive self-defense mechanism against the harsh reality of the addict's addiction and its losses. It is because of this denial that addiction recovery is greatly delayed. He also builds unreasonable resentments and devalues personal relationships.

In the late stage of drug and alcohol addiction, he experiences shakes and tremors, and to control them, he starts to go on lengthy binges. Thinking and cognitive processes are impaired. Irrationality prevails. The guilt experienced in the previous stage turns into persistent remorse. Addressing this guilt is a big part of addiction recovery. Emotional instability increases, and tolerance decreases. Physical health and moral standards deteriorate significantly. At this stage, he is usually admitted into a drug and alcohol de-addiction center for treatment or a psychiatric hospital. By this stage, he has exhausted all alibis and if help is still not sought, it usually results in death.