What does the stabilization stage focus on in addiction recovery?

The stabilization stage in addiction recovery primarily focuses on managing substance use. During this phase, individuals work to achieve stability in their lives by reducing or eliminating their substance use. The emphasis is on ensuring that the individual is safe and secure, often addressing immediate physical and psychological health concerns associated with their addiction. This stage is crucial because it lays the groundwork for subsequent phases of recovery, which involve deeper behavioral changes and the development of strategies to prevent relapse.

While developing coping strategies, planning for long-term recovery, and community reintegration are important components of the overall recovery process, they typically follow the stabilization stage. The focus during stabilization is to create a foundation of sobriety so that individuals can effectively engage in further recovery activities without the destabilizing influence of substance use.