One of the most difficult things people face when looking for addiction help is trying to get past all the misconceptions that persist about substance abuse. National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is a time when people get the opportunity to look beyond the myths and get the real facts about drug addiction. It’s a great time to find resources and help for yourself or a loved one who is struggling with addiction. Understanding some of the misunderstandings around addiction can help you reach out for help when you need it.
Common Myths About Drug Addiction
Some of the most common myths and misconceptions about addiction include:
- People choose to become addicted to drugs or alcohol
- Quitting is a matter of willpower
- You can overcome addiction only after hitting rock bottom
- Recovery is a short process
The truth about addiction is far more complex.
Just like people don’t choose to contract a serious illness like heart disease or cancer, they do not choose to struggle with addiction. Many factors contribute to a drug or alcohol addiction, including the environment in which you were raised, your family history, and emotional damage from past traumas.
Being told that addiction is your fault can be mentally devastating. Hearing statements like that can make a person start believing that they deserve their fate, keeping them from getting help. National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week helps reinforce the reality that addiction is a chronic disease, and those struggling under the burden deserve care and kindness.
Shattering the Myths About Drug and Alcohol Addiction
Another harmful myth about addiction is that it can be overcome by the strength of will alone. Ongoing substance abuse changes the makeup and chemistry of your brain. Your natural thought process gets hijacked to the point where you can become unrecognizable even to yourself. People become almost trapped by their impulse to find more drugs and alcohol.
The kind of damage that drugs and alcohol cause to the brain is why people are often incapable of not using, no matter what harm it causes them. Substance use disorders typically require intense treatment to help people with an illness that has taken over their minds.
It’s never too soon to seek help for an addiction. While most media portrayals of addiction tend to focus on the lowest of lows, you don’t have to wait until you’re desperate or near death to get help. The idea that you must hit a certain point in your alcohol or drug addiction before seeking treatment can be dangerous. Going in for addiction therapy when your illness is less severe means you will likely have more outside support to rely on versus having to lose everything before attempting recovery.
Going into rehab is often a first step, not a permanent fix. While many people start overcoming an addiction’s immediate effects after enrolling at a treatment center, it’s only the start of recovery. Many people require more than one stay at a facility before they get their addiction under control. You will likely have a better chance at maintaining your recovery if you face up to the reality that you must learn to live with the condition for the rest of your life.
Find Help for Addiction at Fresh Start Recovery Center
Sometimes you need the right push to get started on your recovery journey. Awareness holidays serve as a great opportunity for you and your friends and family to learn more about illnesses like an addiction. It’s also a good time for you to find out more about resources near you that can support you in your efforts to remain sober.
Fresh Start Recovery Center welcomes individuals using the occasion to start working on their addiction issues, including:
- Alcohol addiction
- Opioid addiction
- Prescription drug addiction
- Painkiller addiction
Contact our facility today at 833.625.0398 to learn more about the programs and services offered at Fresh Start Recovery Center.
