Author: Gary Jackson

5 Myths About Addiction That Undermine Recovery

Through proper substance abuse treatment, a person struggling with addiction will be able to deal with the major and minor issues that likely caused them to resort to alcohol or drugs as coping mechanisms in the past. Despite a large body of scientific research, myths and misconceptions about addiction remain prevalent in today’s society, contributing to stigma, barriers to treatment, and higher health burdens. They may feel there’s no hope after a relapse and that they should give up.

  1. Everyone’s recovery journey is different, and one roadblock is not enough to diminish how far you’ve come.
  2. Encouraging an environment that acknowledges the whole person, rather than just their struggles, can lead to more supportive communities and stronger recovery outcomes.
  3. These overwhelming impulses help explain the compulsive and often irrational behavior around addiction.
  4. Mark Twain said, “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world.
  5. However, going to treatment is a good sign, a positive step, and an active involvement in disrupting addiction.

Realities of Addiction Recovery

Ultimately, love and support are what encourage change, not punishment and rejection. American Addiction Centers (AAC) is committed to delivering original, truthful, accurate, unbiased, and medically current information. We strive to create content that is clear, concise, and easy to understand.

Exploring the Behavioral Aspects of Addiction

Addiction happens to people across all demographics, from all walks of life, and no one is immune. Mark Twain said, “Giving up smoking is the easiest thing in the world. I know because I’ve done it thousands of times.” Addiction changes the brain, making quitting difficult. Nora Volkow, head of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and other experts have argued that free will is lost with addiction because the addict needs drugs like others need food and water.

“If you receive medication-assisted treatment (MAT), you aren’t really sober.”

When addiction takes hold, these changes in the brain erode a person’s self-control and ability to make good decisions, while sending highly intense impulses to take drugs. These are the same circuits linked to survival, driving powerful urges no different from those driving the need to eat or drink water. Fostering empathy and a better understanding of those facing addiction is crucial in breaking down stigma. It is vital to approach conversations about addiction with sensitivity and compassion.

Myth #5 Rehab doesn’t work.

However— many studies have proven MAT can be an effective tool in maintaining long-term recovery and preventing relapse. There is no magic pill, group, or therapy that can instantly treat your addiction overnight. What worked for someone you know might not work the same for you. This is a common misconception about addiction as illegitimate rehabs make false claims about promising recovery.

#1. Addicts are bad people who deserve to be punished.

Addiction is a chronic brain disorder characterized by compulsive drug seeking, despite harmful consequences. It affects brain function and behavior, which shows that it is not merely a matter of choice. Misconceptions about addiction are prevalent in today’s society and contribute to stigma. For some addictions, such as those to stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine, patients do not have the dramatic withdrawal seen with benzodiazepines, alcohol, or barbiturates. However, people addicted to stimulants still need rehydration, rest, and refeeding as the drug leaves the body.

This is no truer than saying drinking alcohol, shopping, playing video games or using mobile phones, sex, or love are signs of despair. In other words, doctors were doing wonderfully, although opioid and other drug deaths continued to surge. The clear path forward based on Dr. Harris’s remarks was for physicians to redouble their efforts to curtail painkiller prescriptions. These 10 misconceptions hinder effective treatment and contribute to stigma, deterring seeking help and staying in treatment long enough. Addiction neuroscience has done a great job of identifying brain systems involved in the processes of addiction, withdrawal, and craving.

It’s where you gain the skills you need to combat cravings, and where you get a taste of what your life can look like without addiction. While the initial decision to misuse a substance may be voluntary, the way a person’s brain reacts to that substance isn’t. “You mean people quit using painkillers when they no longer feel pain? Naloxone (Narcan) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for emergency opioid overdose reversal in 1971. Naloxone, now available in multiple doses and intranasally, has saved hundreds of thousands of lives by reversing respiratory depression induced by opioid overdose and by “kicking” heroin or fentanyl off of opioid receptors. Getting sober is just the first step on the road to recovery.Staying sober— that’s the next challenge.

If you tried treatment before but were not able to maintain sobriety, that doesn’t mean that treatment doesn’t work. It simply means you are experiencing what is typical of someone along the journey of addiction recovery. As theNational Institute on Drug Abuseexplains, 40 to 60% of people in recovery from addiction experience setbacks or relapse. The common belief has been that those who are addicted to drugs or alcohol simply aren’t strong enough to overcome it. Some people believe that there is something inherently wrong with a person who struggles with addiction.