The Four Stages of Alcohol Addiction: At-risk stage: In this initial phase, alcohol consumption is mostly social or used as a stress reliever. However, a tolerance to alcohol begins to build, subtly escalating consumption. Early alcohol use disorder: This stage is marked by noticeable changes: experiencing blackouts, drinking alone or secretly, and frequent thoughts about alcohol starting to surface. Mid-stage alcohol use disorder: Alcohol consumption becomes unmanageable, severely disrupting daily life, including work, family, and finances. Health starts to deteriorate, with organ damage becoming evident in medical tests. End-stage alcohol use disorder: Alcohol dominates life at this stage, overshadowing basic needs like food and personal relationships. Severe health issues, profound despair, and life-threatening complications emerge.