Alcohol and drug abuse can tear families apart and transform loving and successful individuals into desperate, lonely husks of their former selves. Even though the impact is devastating, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Anyone can overcome addiction with the help and guidance of a substance abuse treatment program.
Understanding the five stages of addiction recovery can be useful for addicted people and their family members. Each stage clearly describes the process of recognizing and admitting the problem, preparing for addiction treatment, and dealing with life after treatment of alcohol and drug abuse. It’s an integrated theory that’s compatible with most evidence-based and holistic treatments, like the 12-step program and behavior therapy.
Why Understanding the Stages of Recovery Matters
Understanding the five stages of addiction recovery isn’t just useful for those struggling with substance use — it’s also vital for families, friends, and treatment providers. Recognizing what stage a person is in allows for more effective communication, realistic expectations, and the right kind of support. Rather than pushing someone toward treatment before they’re ready, loved ones can help guide them gently and respectfully, increasing the likelihood of long-term success.
Education is power in the recovery journey. When clients and their families understand that change is a process — not a single event — it sets the stage for greater compassion, patience, and resilience.
What Is the Transtheoretical Model?
Prochaska, DiClemente and Norcross created the stages of change or transtheoretical model in 1983 to help people quit smoking. It was then updated in 1992, when it started being used in clinical settings for a variety of behaviors. By studying various mental health and substance use disorder treatment plans, Prochaska, DiClemente and Norcross noted patterns that occur as people progress through a major behavioral shift.
The stages of addiction recovery aren’t necessarily linear, and people don’t stay in them for a set amount of time. Of course, some people sail quickly through the stages, in perfect order. Plus, there are certain principles that counselors and therapists on rehab programs can use to guide clients through the recovery process.
It can also be helpful for the addicted person themselves to gain self-understanding using this model. Insight is a powerful tool for change because it makes it easier to be mindful of decisions you’re making in the moment.
What Are the Five Stages of Change In Recovery?
The five stages of addiction recovery are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action and maintenance. Read on to find out more about the various stages.
1. Precontemplation Stage of Addiction Recovery
People who are in the first stage of addiction recovery aren’t yet ready for any addiction treatment program. This phase is characterized by defensiveness and endless justification of their behavior. There’s a clear lack of insight into the negative impact of excessive drug or alcohol use and a strong focus on the positive effects they experience from using their drug of choice.
Someone might remain in this stage due to a lack of information about addictive behaviors. Another reason we regularly see people get stuck in the precontemplation stage is disappointment with multiple failed attempts at recovery and treatment options. Most individuals in precontemplation feel that recovery simply isn’t possible for them. The truth is that anyone can recover from any stage.
At this stage, challenges often include denial, resistance to outside input, and feelings of hopelessness. Loved ones may find it difficult to reach the individual without triggering defensiveness. Education, motivational interviewing, and building trust are essential tools for helping someone move beyond precontemplation. It’s also important to meet the person with compassion rather than confrontation.
2. Contemplation Stage of Recovery
The next phase is characterized by contemplative readiness. This means the person is ready to bring about change in the future, but not immediately. Unlike the previous stage, they’re aware of the pros of becoming drug-free.
However, they are also still acutely aware of the benefits they perceive from alcohol or drug addiction. This is a critical stage for family members and treatment facilities because the person is more likely to listen to reason. By avoiding blame, judgment and accusations, it’s possible to guide them to the next stage.
During contemplation, ambivalence is one of the biggest hurdles. Individuals may acknowledge the problem but still fear the unknowns of sobriety — Will they be able to cope without substances? Will they lose friendships or routines they rely on? Guilt, shame, or fear of failure can also hold them back. This is a powerful time for motivational support, nonjudgmental conversation, and planting seeds of hope.
3. Preparation Stage of Addiction Recovery
When it comes to the preparation stage, the individual is building a sense of urgency regarding their desire for sobriety. They’ve usually made steps toward taking action, such as intending to join a gym, seeing a counselor or attempting to quit addiction by themselves without attending a treatment center.
It’s normal for people in this phase to go for a day or two without turning to drug or alcohol abuse, but it’s also perfectly usual to see people jump back to contemplation or precontemplation in case triggers or difficult emotions arise.
This stage is filled with both motivation and vulnerability. The desire to change is real, but the person may still be wrestling with anxiety, doubt, or the fear of change. External pressure — from family, the legal system, or health concerns — can either help or hinder progress, depending on how it’s framed. A well-structured treatment plan, peer encouragement, and professional support can help solidify their commitment.
4. Action Stage of Recovery
During the action stage, the person has made significant changes in their lives and is committed to change. This stage of change is characterized by prolonged periods of abstinence and the inclination to turn to professionals for help before or after relapse.
It won’t just be a case of halting the destructive behavior; change will be apparent in multiple aspects of their lifestyle. Self-care and self-understanding are both present in this treatment stage, but counseling is required to keep them on the right path.
The action phase often brings a mix of empowerment and emotional turbulence. Individuals may face intense cravings, mood swings, or grief as they process life without substances. Relapse triggers like stress, relationships, or loneliness are common, which is why therapy, structure, and support groups are so crucial. At Recovery at the Crossroads, we help clients build healthy routines and coping strategies tailored to their lives.
5. Maintenance Stage of Addiction Recovery
During the maintenance stage, the individual is working hard to prevent addiction recovery relapse. They’re also keeping up the lifestyle changes they made, like getting regular exercise, recreational activities, staying sober, paying attention to sleep hygiene and attending support groups. They don’t feel the urge to relapse as frequently as people in the action stage, so their confidence grows and they truly believe in their ability to maintain sobriety long term.
This stage can last from six months to five years, depending on the severity of the addiction and the individual’s genes and experience. It takes a small minority of people six months of abstinence to reach the point where they don’t go back to their addictive behavior. However, for most people, a commitment of two to five years is necessary to truly break the habit and solidify change.
One of the main challenges in the maintenance stage is complacency. As life stabilizes and the memory of addiction fades, individuals might reduce their involvement in support systems — which can increase relapse risk. Others may struggle with boredom or emotional flatness as they adapt to a substance-free life. That’s why ongoing therapy, community connection, and purposeful living are key components of sustained recovery.
How Long Does Each Stage of Recovery Take?
The time a person spends in each stage of addiction recovery varies based on individual factors such as the severity of the addiction, co-occurring mental health conditions, support systems, and personal motivation. For some, moving through the stages can happen relatively quickly. For others, it may take months or even years. It’s not unusual to move back and forth between stages before achieving long-term recovery. Understanding that recovery isn’t linear helps individuals avoid feelings of failure and stay committed to progress, even when setbacks occur.
At Recovery at the Crossroads, we support each client at their current stage, offering a compassionate, personalized approach that meets them where they are and helps them move forward at a pace that’s right for them.
The Importance of Aftercare
Even when someone has reached maintenance, it doesn’t mean they’re cured of addiction. Like diabetes or heart disease, it’s a chronic condition that requires major lifestyle changes to keep under control. As such, it’s crucial that people in addiction recovery make continuous active efforts to maintain sobriety. Complacency or a sense that the work is done once you reach maintenance is often a one-way ticket to recovery relapse.
Aftercare helps you stay on track and keep practicing what you learned while in rehab. Whether it’s individual therapy, support groups, 12-step meetings or an outpatient treatment program, we recommend staying in some form of aftercare for at least one or two years after you complete a course of rehab program.
What If Relapse Happens?
Relapse can feel like a setback, but it doesn’t mean treatment has failed. Recovery is a lifelong journey, and many individuals experience one or more relapses before achieving lasting sobriety. What matters most is how a person responds after a relapse — whether they recommit to their goals, seek support, and apply what they’ve learned.
At Recovery at the Crossroads, we work closely with clients to develop relapse prevention plans and offer supportive aftercare options to help them get back on track without shame or judgment. Our compassionate approach empowers individuals to view relapse as an opportunity for deeper growth, not as a failure.
How Our Treatment Programs Align With the Stages of Recovery
At Recovery at the Crossroads, we design our evidence-based treatment programs around the five stages of change model. For individuals in the early stages like precontemplation or contemplation, we provide motivational interviewing and psychoeducation to help spark awareness and readiness. In the preparation and action stages, clients can access intensive outpatient programming (IOP), group therapy, individual counseling, and EMDR for trauma-related addiction.
During maintenance, our aftercare planning becomes essential. Clients are encouraged to engage in continued care through alumni programs, sober living arrangements, and ongoing therapy. As a kosher rehab in New Jersey, we also integrate culturally sensitive programming that aligns with Jewish values, helping clients stay grounded in their faith and community as they build a new life in recovery.
If you or a loved one needs help with substance abuse, Recovery at the Crossroads can help you along every step of the way. Call our New Jersey rehab today at 888-342-3881 to find out how to enroll in one of our alcohol and drug addiction treatment programs.
