Developing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help you heal from the effects of addiction, physically and emotionally. This refutes the logic of the common “tough love” approach to treating addiction. People often believe that cutting addicts out of their lives or putting them in jail will help them to realize that change needs to occur, but this harsh treatment can often exacerbate the problem. Gentler approaches are more effective at helping addicts, while pushing them away may result in even more extreme behavior. Addiction is something that has long been misunderstood and overlooked.

• The only way to tell regular substance use apart from abuse is to determine whether or not the drugs are causing someone harm.
• However, these medications are considered an essential tool in reducing the chances of a patient causing harm to themselves or someone else during the withdrawal process.
• Mending relationships, getting through withdrawals, and finding a meaningful role in society are all mountains that need to be climbed.
• Addiction comes with a lot of guilt and embarrassment so many develop behaviors that allow them to effectively hide their addiction, at least for a period of time.
• The truth is that no one “chooses” addiction and developing a chemical dependence on drugs/alcohol isn’t the person’s fault.

This myth is propagated by 12-step recovery programs, which encourage lifelong attendance of meetings to combat a chronic disorder and reduce the risk of relapse. If you become addicted to heroin, it doesn’t mean that you’re a lifelong heroin addict, or that drinking a single drop of alcohol will cause you to become an alcoholic. Sometimes the addict/alcoholic goes through several rehab centers until he or she finds lasting recovery. myths about addiction and recovery Family members often become exhausted and discouraged at this point, and they begin to think all facilities are alike. Here at MARR, we focus on gender-specific, long-term residential treatment and the Therapeutic Community model. When searching for the best drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, conduct extensive research before making a decision. Just as every individual is different, addiction treatment should vary as well.

Three Common Myths about Addiction

Mending relationships, getting through withdrawals, and finding a meaningful role in society are all mountains that need to be climbed. Withdrawal comes in different forms and will vary with the substance that a person is coming off of. The length of withdrawals is vastly different between, say, opioid users and users of stimulants. The following example may seem like a far-cry from issues of substance abuse but sit with it for a little while. Safe Harbor Recovery Center, located in Portsmouth, Virginia, serves adult men and women who have been diagnosed with substance use disorders.

• Contrary to what some people believe, addiction is a very real physical dependence on a chemical.
• “Research has shown time and again that there are many paths to recovery,” Manejwala says.
• After multiple treatment centers, I entered Casa and feel like a switch clicked.
• The biggest myth about addiction is that it is a choice, but it has been proven that it’s a disorder because it can change a person’s brain chemistry.
• There are plenty of budget-friendly options and payment plans available at some treatment centers .

Since the symptoms and reactions to substance abuse are not the same, the treatment given to these individuals has to cater to their problems and cannot be a simple ‘flush the drugs out’ therapy. Treatment involves use of medication, therapy, counselling, emotional and psychological support and a lot of hand holding so that the person realizes that there is a great life beyond drugs or alcohol. Those who seek help can indeed recover and go on to live long, fruitful lives. Support is available from inpatient and outpatient treatment centers and other recovery programs such as counseling and AA.

Myth About Addiction: Addiction can be overcome alone

Whether you are contemplating this decision or it’s already been made, you should be proud of yourself for taking this important first step. The real problem with this myth is that it promotes a one-size-fits-all approach to addiction treatment, while each individual’s journey through addiction and recovery is different.

We need to be more accepting and adopt a positive attitude towards those who choose to reform. Reformative thinking is very crucial in substance abuse treatment. Someone who shows any willingness to seek help has taken a huge step, and the rest of the way can be made easier with a lot of positive thinking and empathetic attitude.

Myths About Substance Use Disorders

This is probably one of the most damaging myths about drug or alcohol addiction. Becoming addicted to drugs is not a problem of willpower or a sign of weakness. Many factors influence a person’s risk factors for addiction, and willpower is not one of them. Addiction often runs in families, and genetics are often to blame. Social factors and untreated mental health issues are all known risk factors for addiction.

At Gateway, we use Suboxone or Vivitrol instead when necessary. In some cases, these symptoms can be so uncomfortable that a person will seek to return to their addiction simply to ease their pain. In other cases, if a person is going through withdrawal and experiences more severe symptoms such as a seizure, they are in danger of serious injury or death if they attempt to face this alone. Because we already believe ourselves to be experts, these misconceptions get recycled and repeated and are even used as the basis for some treatments for addiction. Here are some common myths about recovery and why they may not be as true as you once believed. While addiction can be a result of many factors such as genetics, trauma, and mental illness, anyone can develop an addiction.

“Quitting Just Requires Willpower”

So, why do so many people believe the common myth that alcoholics drink every day? With alcoholism, it doesn’t matter if a person consumes daily or not. What matters is when the person drinks, why the person drinks, and how much they drink. Visit our blog that explains the difference between heavy drinking and alcoholism.

If you feel uncomfortable taking a medication that your doctor prescribed, there is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking a second opinion or asking your doctor about alternative options. Medically Assisted Therapy may utilize prescription drugs like methadone and suboxone. However, these substances work to fight opioid use disorders and curb cravings during withdrawal.

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