Are You Ready?

When people start to experience unpleasant consequences of their addictive behavior, they often wonder why they can't just quit.

Despite the popular belief that quitting involves little more than realizing you have a problem and sheer will power, quitting is such a complex process that there is actually a model, known as the stages of change model, that details the various stages that people typically go through on the road to recovery.

The stages include precontemplation -- common among people in the early stages of addiction; contemplation -- common among people who want to continue with their current behavior, but are aware of some issues; preparation -- when a decision has been made but you're aren't quite ready to make changes; and action -- when you are in the process of quitting.

Additional stages of maintenance and relapse are also sometimes included.

Not sure which stage you are in? A visit to your local addiction treatment centre will often involve an assessment of your readiness for change, as well as support that matches the stage you are in.