It is not unusual for an addict, especially an alcoholic to deny that his drinking is affecting his life or the life of his family. Until the addict wholly accepts and sincerely believes that he has an addiction, the recovery process cannot begin. A drug screening survey is a useful tool in determining whether an individual has or shows a potential addiction problem. .
The next key component associated to recovery, requires that the individual makes life style changes that will not only support his decision to stop his self-harming behaviour, but will reinforce his process of recovery. Therefore it is essential that wherever possible, the addict remove himself from any environment associated with his abusive behaviour. For instance, gambling addicts should not frequent betting or lottery .
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establishments, ecstasy addicts must discontinue attending at raves, heroin or cocaine addicts must consciously choose places where drugs are not condoned and avoid frequenting known locations where drugs are used. The addict must isolate himself from all former friends who otherwise would encourage the addictive behaviour or participate themselves in self-abusing or destructive behaviour. An addict who independently adopts this attitude and is determined to avoid high-risk environments and people has a better chance to avoid relapsing. .
The third key component of recovery involves abstinence from all self-harming behaviours and substances. For example where a cocaine addict is in the process of recovery, he must not only abstain from his drug of choice, but from all psychotropic drugs including alcohol.
The stages of change as described by Levinthal is another component of recovery and include the following stages: .
1. Pre-contemplation stage. The individual in this stage has the desire to recovery, however they have failed to adopt the serious attitude necessary to make changes. .
2. Contemplation stage.
