Chemical Dependency Counselor Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Stage 4 of Johnson's Paradigm is characterized by uncontrolled use to attain normal feelings. At this stage, individuals who struggle with chemical dependency have moved beyond the initial stages of experimentation and recreational use and have developed a pattern of use that is increasingly compulsive. The reliance on substances is not merely for pleasure or social reasons; rather, it becomes a means of coping with daily life and managing emotional pain or discomfort.

During this stage, individuals often find that they can no longer achieve a "natural" emotional state without the aid of substances, leading to a situation where they feel compelled to use drugs to function normally. Their ability to regulate emotions and cope with stress diminishes, and as a result, they depend on substances to experience what they perceive as normal feelings. This can create a vicious cycle where the inability to manage emotions without substances reinforces continued use, further entrenching the cycle of dependency.

Understanding this stage helps counselors recognize the complexities of addiction and develop targeted interventions that address the underlying emotional and psychological needs of their clients. In contrast, the other options present more transient or superficial aspects of substance use, which do not capture the deeper, more problematic nature of Stage 4.