For many people who have never struggled with a drug or alcohol addiction, they do not understand the in and outs of this problem.
Unfortunately, the media doesn’t always help either. The result is a series of lies, misconceptions, and myths about addiction that have been spread about as incorrect truths. This needs to stop.
Common Myths About Drug Addiction That Need to Be Debunked
As nationwide addiction treatment centers, we know the truth behind what is fact and what is fiction, so we are debunking some common myths about addiction.
Addiction Myth 1: Overcoming addiction is a matter of willpower. You can stop using drugs if you really want.
Fact: Prolonged exposure to drugs alters the brain in ways that result in powerful cravings and a compulsion to use. These brain changes make it extremely difficult to quit by sheer force of will.
Addiction Myth 2: Using drugs like opioid painkillers are safe since they’re so commonly prescribed by doctors.
Fact: Short-term medical use of opioid painkillers can help to manage severe pain after an accident or surgery. However, regular or longer-term use of opioids can lead to addiction. If you struggling with this problem, do not wait to get painkiller addiction treatment. Misuse of these drugs or taking someone else’s medication can have dangerous—even deadly—consequences.
Addiction Myth 3: Addiction is a disease; there’s nothing that can be done about it.
Fact: Most experts agree that addiction is a disease that affects the brain, but that doesn’t mean anyone is helpless. The brain changes associated with addiction can be treated and reversed through therapy, medication, exercise, and other addiction treatment programs.
Addiction Myth 4: Addicts have to hit rock bottom before they can get better.
Fact: Recovery can begin at any point in the addiction process—and the earlier, the better. The longer drug abuse continues, the stronger the addiction becomes and the harder it is to treat. Don’t wait to intervene until the addict has lost everything.
Addiction Myth 5: You can’t force someone into treatment; they have to want help.
Fact: Treatment doesn’t have to be voluntary to be successful. People who are pressured into treatment by their family, employer, or the legal system are just as likely to benefit as those who choose to enter treatment on their own. As they sober up and their thinking clears, many formerly resistant addicts decide they want to change.
Addiction Myth 6: Treatment didn’t work before, so there’s no point trying again.
Fact: Recovery from drug addiction is a long process that often involves setbacks. Relapse doesn’t mean that treatment has failed or that sobriety is a lost cause. It is a signal to get back on track, either by going back to treatment or adjusting the treatment approach.
Now that these myths about addiction have been debunked, do not wait to get you or your loved one help.
Call us today at
888-280-4763 to learn more and get started on the road to recovery.
Sources:
- American Heart Association - Illegal Drugs and Heart Disease
- National Institute on Drug Abuse - Health Consequences of Drug Misuse
