5 Myths About Addiction
Addiction can be a taboo topic in social circles, which leads to many myths and misconceptions being propagated. These myths can be harmful to those trying to recover from their addiction, holding them back or leading them astray from seeking treatment. When you’re battling an addiction, whether to drugs, alcohol, or any other substance, addiction treatment or addiction rehab is crucial. Here are five myths about addiction and recovery that you need to stop believing.
1. The Best Method for Quitting Is “Cold Turkey”
Quitting “cold turkey” is a sudden, complete stop to using a substance. While some believe this dramatic method is the only way to effectively end an addiction, in truth, it can be rather dangerous. Withdrawal symptoms can be severe and pose a significant threat to health. Furthermore, quitting “cold turkey” is typically seen as a solitary activity, which prevents recovering addicts from getting assistance at an addiction rehab facility, where professionals are ready to address any withdrawal symptoms.
2. Quitting Is Easy if You Have Strong Willpower
A common myth that increases the burden on the shoulders of addicts is the belief that addiction only affects weak people, and that it is easy to avoid addiction or quit entirely as long as you have strong enough willpower. Research into the ways that addiction affects the brain has proven this to be untrue, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) explains it as addiction being a chronic disease that leads to “brain changes that challenge an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to take drugs.”
3. Relapsing Is a Sign of Failure
In correlation with the previous myth, relapsing is also seen as a sign of failure or weakness. As mentioned, substance abuse changes the way the brain itself works, which leads to relapse being common in addiction patients. It is important to view relapse not as a moral failure, but instead as a signal that it may be necessary to modify or adjust the current method of addiction treatment.
4. Seek Treatment Only When the Addiction Gets Serious
At the beginning of a substance abuse problem, addicts or those around them may believe that it is not serious enough to warrant seeking treatment. This is another dangerous misconception, as it encourages using substances until a tipping point like an overdose or a near-death scare before it is considered serious enough to get help. Seeking addiction treatment or addiction rehab earlier on is actually more beneficial, as waiting until rock bottom will only make it more difficult to get back up.
5. Addiction Cannot Be Cured
Addiction is a chronic disease, which means that a “cure” technically does not exist. However, research has led to the development of methods that can help patients manage their addiction, by counteracting its effects on their brain and behavior. Treatment may be difficult but this does not mean that treatment is impossible.
Where To Get Help for Addiction
Do not let harmful myths about substance addiction prevent you from seeking the support you need for recovery. If you or someone you know needs help, contact Brookdale today. You can reach us at Brookdale Premier Addiction Recovery through our phone number 855-575-1292. Insurance may cover most, if not all, costs associated with treatment at Brookdale.
Sources:
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/understanding-drug-use-addiction
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/treatment-recovery