Debunking Myths About Addiction Recovery

Debunking Myths About Addiction Recovery

Many insurance plans cover at least a part of drug treatment. If you are below a certain income threshold, you may be eligible for public healthcare through Medicaid for certain treatment centers. Marijuana may also be viewed as a non-addictive drug, but it is possible to develop a dependence on this substance. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that as many as 30% of people who use marijuana will become addicted. If you display symptoms such as intense marijuana cravings, being unable to reduce your use, or missing work because of marijuana use, you may have an addiction to marijuana.

Even drugs prescribed by a doctor, like opioid painkillers, can lead to addiction, so be careful to follow your doctor’s directions. 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. Each addict has different needs for recovery that may not be met by trying to squeeze them into the rigid 12-step mold.

Break The Stigma on These Myths About Addiction: Find Help at Inner Voyage

But, in order to be successful, the individual going to treatment needs to be engaged and willing to change. But they aren’t an addict because they were a bad person, they may become a bad person and make bad decisions because they are an addict.

• Beyond the period of medical withdrawal management, a combination of medications and behavioral therapies is backed by research to be the most successful addiction treatment approach.
• Our whole-person approach recognizes that recovery is not just physical – it requires emotional, social, and spiritual support.
• The information on this website is not intended to be a substitute for, or to be relied upon as, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
• For generations, addiction has been widely regarded as a moral failing or a lack of willpower in addressing the problem.
• Misconceptions have also made it harder for families to reach out for support.

The reality is that many people who suffer from addiction function well in society and may even be highly successful. It is simply harder to tell that person is struggling, which makes it harder for friends and family to notice changes enough to intervene. https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/13-common-myths-about-addiction-and-recovery/ Anyone can be vulnerable to addiction, and many people hide their difficulties due to the current stigmas and shame surrounding the disease. One of the biggest misconceptions is that addiction to drugs or alcohol is a voluntary decision.

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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. Outward appearances can be deceptive, and addiction does not discriminate. Many people function in daily life and hold down a regular job despite being addicted to alcohol or drugs.

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. Peer support is also designed for you to meet people who are further along in their recovery journey.

Myth #4: It Doesn’t Count as Treatment if I Need Medication

People think relapsing means you failed with treatment, but it’s really just a part of the process and happens more often than you’d think. It’s common for people to require several rounds of addiction treatment, just like with any other disease. When someone uses drugs or drinks alcohol, the reward center in their brain is triggered. For some individuals, the body will begin to crave this feeling. No matter how “strong” someone is, they could develop an addiction. Addiction can impact every area of a person’s life and can affect absolutely anyone, so it is important to know the truth about substance abuse disorders before making assumptions.

If you are living with an addiction, it doesn’t mean you’re weak. Finding a medical treatment plan or recovery support community can help you heal. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, you’ve probably found a lot of information and resources. But finding the right treatment program takes some research.

Now that you know some of the most common myths about addiction, you know how difficult it can be for people with an addiction to reach out for help. Still, there are certain individuals that support a total abstinence approach and, therefore, believe that you aren’t “fully” sober until you stop taking all medications. But there are plenty of others who support the idea that medications combined with counseling and a structured recovery plan can help someone manage cravings and live a fulfilling, substance-free life. While the perspectives on this issue are shifting, there is still work to be done to reduce the stigma of MAT. People who struggle with addiction also require a lot of social support to create new, healthier habits. But sometimes, they have burned bridges in their lives and lost the supportive relationships they once had.

The only way to tell regular substance use apart from abuse is to determine whether or not the drugs are causing someone harm. As much as you want to believe someone when they say, “I’ll quit tomorrow” or “Just one more drink,” it likely won’t be their last getting high or drunk. Oftentimes, there is physical and psychological damage behind an addiction that needs professional attention. A person battling a substance abuse problem needs individualized medical and/or clinical treatments, integrative therapies, and mindfulness practices to restore balance to their life. They also need to develop coping skills and to re-establish strong connections with family, employers, and friends — a crucial part of success in recovery.

You Can’t Be an Addict if You Have a Full-Time Job

Preteens, teenagers, and young adults are groups that often experiment with different types of intoxicating substances, and for some of these individuals, the experiment becomes an addiction. Anyone at any age can struggle with addiction to drugs and alcohol, and it is just as important for children and young adults to get help as it is for other age groups. The continued use of substances brings about structural and chemical changes to the brain, which trigger compulsive and uncontrollable use. Myths about addiction create stigma, which makes it difficult for people to talk about their problem (let alone admit it to themself). With this in mind, it’s important to keep an open mind and understand that substance abuse and addiction are problems that many people struggle with.

• So, whether you are searching for “PHP program near me” or simply “outpatient addiction treatment”, contact us today to begin your journey.
• This is one of the most hurtful myths about addiction people believe.
• Addiction impacts your loved one’s ability to think rationally and focus on healthy priorities.
• If you are struggling with alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder, we can help you get your life back at Landmark Recovery.
• Widespread myths about addiction are partially responsible for creating a gap between those who need treatment and those who actually seek treatment.

If their social network is made up of people who also use, it can be extremely difficult to find the necessary support to make positive changes. Reversing misconceptions like these will help us better understand how to effectively treat drug and alcohol addiction. By promoting understanding of addiction’s realities, those who have never experienced an addict’s difficulties can better sympathize and aid in recovery. 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.

Myth #3: You can’t get addicted to marijuana or vaping.

People will keep using even when terrible things happen to them. Receive weekly insights to help you and your loved ones on your road to recovery. Our commitment to our clients’ lasting success and recovery helps us continually exceed licensing standards of care throughout the industry.