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Denial Stages in Substance Use

During treatment of chemical dependency and substance abuse, users must go through the phases of denial to truly understand the problem and make progress towards recovery. Three distinct stages of denial make up the process of recovery. For many addicted individuals, it may take months or years to address and eventually overcome the dependence.

  1. Types of Denial

    • There are two types of denial one may encounter in substance abuse recovery, type A and type B. Type A denial is similar to lying, as a person, when asked about his problem, denies it while knowing that he is being dishonest. Type B denial is when a person does not understand that he has a problem and may address minor concerns but not understand the spectrum of the problem or be completely blind to it. For recovery purposes, the denial stages fall into type B denial classification.

    Stage One

    • Stage one denial is when a person refuses to admit, due to ignorance, that he has a problem with chemical addiction. This doesn't mean he won't address being addicted to the drug, but he doesn't see it as a problem. Others do admit to being a drug user, but refuse to accept that they are dependent on it. Overcoming stage one is a process that can only be achieved by education and abstinence from the drug. Internally, each person must accept that he is an addict to progress.

    Stage Two

    • Stage two denial surfaces after a treatment program has been completed. An individual feels that she has completed the program and is essentially "cured," while refusing to admit that she still needs to seek assistance and support from groups or individuals. Stage two denial stems from an addict refusing to feel that she is powerless and unable to maintain sobriety on her own. It is a very spiritual phase, whether it is linked to a religion and a god or belief in oneself. When a person passes stage two denial, she feels that belonging to a program gives her happiness and puts power back into her hands for success.

    Stage Three

    • The third and final stage of denial, stage three, is refusing to go to any lengths during recovery. Although an individual may be committed to recovery, he may not be able to successfully maintain it very long. Stage three is one of the shortest stages because it can either lead to a relapse, placing the individual back at stage one, or an increased involvement in the recovery process, such as actively participating in the 12-step program and allowing it to work.

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