There are many different ways to describe drug abuse and addiction, and many things that come to mind as well, stereotypes that are often good and bad. The unfortunate thing is that there are mostly bad things that come to mind when thinking about addiction, due to the stigma that is held against it. Although a lot of bad things happen as a direct result of addiction, people often forget that this is a major disease that people struggle with everyday. There are also many myths and ideas about addiction that just simply aren’t true.
5 Myths about Addiction and Drug Abuse
There are some people who are able to recreationally use drugs without the consequences as a direct result, or even have to suffer through an addiction from it. Then there are others who were born with a brain that is wired much differently, and who are more prone to the disease of addiction. Addiction can have such a powerful hold over a person, leaving them feeling helpless, ashamed, and isolated. Learning the nature of addiction and drug abuse, and how it develops, will give you a much better understanding as to why people who are addicted to drugs are the way that they are. There are many people that misinterpret addiction and think things of it that simply aren’t true. Here are 5 myths about addiction and drug abuse:
MYTH #1: Mind Over Matter: You can stop if you really want to. “To overcome an addiction is simply just a matter of willpower. You can do anything you can put your mind to, even quitting drugs.” Although some people may be able to pull this off, addiction is a very powerful and insidious disease; as badly as some addicts want to quit, it’s much easier said than done. There is professional help for these situations, called addiction treatment, which is highly suggested.
MYTH #2: Addiction is not a disease, it’s a choice. Countless people in this world believe that addiction is not a disease, it’s a moral choice; this is one of the biggest problems that causes such a stigma on addiction. Most experts agree that addiction (whether it be to drugs, alcohol, gambling, food, etc) is in fact a brain disease, but this does not mean that there isn’t treatment to help it. The changes in the brain that are associated with the disease of addiction can be treated through medication, therapy, exercise, and other treatments.
MYTH #3: An addict must hit rock bottom before they decide to get better. Recovery from the disease of addiction can start at any point, but the earlier, the better. The longer an addict waits and the longer they continue to abuse drugs, the stronger the addiction becomes, leaving it more difficult to treat. You should never wait to get help for addiction, due to many reasons; one reason in particular would be the ultimate consequence of addiction: death. Waiting until an addict has lost it all, gone to jail, or worse, suffered an overdose, is the worst thing you can do. Getting help for addiction immediately is strongly encouraged.
MYTH #4: An addict has to want help; you can’t just force them into treatment. There has been many cases of addiction treatment being successful without the addict going in voluntarily. Many times you will see an addict who is pressured into treatment by their family, legal system, or even their employer and they were just as successful and benefited just as much as someone who entered treatment on their own will. When an addict sobers up, their thinking becomes less cloudy, and they start to think more clearly to make decisions that will benefit their life and not their habit. Many addicts who are in this situation decide to stop being so resistant towards treatment and start to work towards changing their lives for the better.
MYTH #5: Treatment didn’t work the first time, so there is absolutely no point in trying again. Recovery from the disease of addiction is a process, sometimes a long process, and setbacks are a common occurrence with some addicts. Relapse happens, but it doesn’t mean that there isn’t hope. Relapse does not mean that treatment didn’t work, it means that the addict simply wasn’t quite ready for the necessary change in their life. If anything, relapse is a signal for the addict to get back on track by going back to treatment or adjusting their mindset to prepare for the treatment approach.
Getting Help For Addiction
The disease of addiction, as stated before, is powerful and insidious. There are many consequences for this disease, including the most devastating consequence of all- death. It is strongly encouraged to get help for your addiction sooner, rather than later. Although relapse happens, it does not mean that you are a lost cause. There is hope for addiction, luckily, and the only thing standing in an addict’s way of getting help is picking up the phone and making a simple phone call. Recovery Society has help many addicts and alcoholics find a new life in recovery, and can do the same for you or your loved one. If you or someone you know is struggling with the disease of addiction, call 1-866-527-5252 now to see what your treatment options are.
