Is it just us or is there an alarming number of recovery myths and addiction myths out there?
Over the years, misinformation spread, populating minds and influencing attitudes with a lot of erroneous facts about addiction and recovery. These misconceptions can even make it harder for people in recovery to get help.
With all this in mind, and in an attempt to course-correct, we’ll be debunking twelve recovery myths. Whether you’re currently struggling with substance abuse, have a loved one who is, or don’t even know anyone at all, it’s never a bad idea to get a better understanding of the realities of addiction and rehabilitation.
You Have to Hit “Rock Bottom”
One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to addiction is that hitting rock bottom is essentially a prerequisite to getting sober. But that isn’t actually the case.
In fact, you can start your recovery journey at any time. Of course, it’s better to get help sooner rather than later as putting off your recovery means more time to put yourself in danger.
Medication is the Be-All-End-All
There are plenty of therapies and medicines that exist to help those struggling with addiction, but they aren’t where recovery ends. That’s not to suggest medication doesn’t work as it has an important place in many rehabilitative contexts, particularly to ease withdrawal symptoms and assist in recovery. But success in recovery relies just as much on intervention in a person’s mental health, the development of healthy coping strategies, and a supportive community.
Prescription Drugs Can’t Be Addictive
“My doctor would never prescribe a medication that’s harmful or addictive, right?” That’s something many people were starting to ask themselves in the late-90s and early-2000s. But in many cases, it’s less about the medication than it is about the individual intentionally misusing it. Prescription drugs are the most in the hands of individuals intent on using them recreationally.
Only Certain People Become Addicted
Many of us take the “that could never happen to me” when it comes to addiction although the data has repeatedly shown this to not be the case. Unfortunately, substance abuse disorder is highly stigmatized and often intersects with socio-economic prejudices. This discrimination is very unfair and makes people less likely to seek help. In truth, anyone can struggle with addiction, no matter their race or background.
Addiction is a Choice
The impulse to blame people for their own addictions is natural, but the reality is far more complicated. Addiction is characterized as a “chronic relapsing disease” that’s incredibly difficult to overcome. When you’re struggling with substance abuse disorder, you can’t simply say ‘No’ to solve the problem, otherwise, it wouldn’t be an addiction.
Addiction Would Stop If…
It is nice to imagine a world in which eliminating addictive substances solves the problem of addiction. But if we push too hard, people could essentially be forced into more dangerous positions. We saw this happen in the 2000s when prescription drugs were becoming more regulated, resulting in a flood of prescription drug users switching to heroin.
Peer Pressure isn’t Real
Anybody who’s grown up in the United States, particularly in the wake of the War on Drugs, has seen anti-drug abuse PSAs warning kids about the dangers of peer pressure. These programs often repeated the same warnings, urging children to say “No” in the face of pressure from a peer. Although those snippets are dated from a stylistic perspective, the PSAs about peer pressure remain relevant today. Adolescents who use social media are at higher risk of being pressured to partake in order to feel like part of the group.
Harm Reduction Enables Substance Abuse
Addiction is dangerous and the risk of overdose is always there. While harm reduction programs do exist to help you use safely, they don’t enable you to use more than you already would have. In other words, these programs don’t increase the frequency with which people use; rather, they simply decrease the risk associated with drug use. Or sometimes they simply offer a safe environment.
Shame Motivates a Person to Seek Treatment
If the world condemns addiction and shames those struggling with it, then won’t people be motivated to seek help? In reality, treatment motivated by shame often fails to endure while stigma can have a significant impact on one’s mental health. It lowers self-esteem, creates guilt, and leads to further substance abuse in order to mute these bad feelings. In other words, public shame may make the addiction worse.
Getting Sober Solves Your Problems
Unfortunately, many of your problems will not go away after you get sober. Although your substance abuse won’t be making things worse, you must deal with the issues themselves.
Addiction is Instantaneous
A common narrative, particularly for crack cocaine, is that you become addicted right away. In reality, although we haven’t been able to quantify exactly how addictive a drug is, we know drugs like crack cocaine are very dangerous and have a higher risk of addiction.
To Relapse is to Fail
The ideal scenario is to not relapse at all. Obviously, a relapse is extremely difficult to deal with, but it’s not the end of the world. In fact, people in recovery often encounter old triggers, coping habits, and opportunities to use. The relapse is less important than what happens after the relapse.
Staying busy, reconsidering coping strategies, and focusing on mental health can get you back on track to recovery.
Learn the Positives with Purposes Recovery
Now that you know a bit more about recovery, you should know that you don’t have to go on this journey alone. If you’re looking for assistance, Purposes Recovery offers the best medical detox in Los Angeles. Follow us on social media to find out about our medical detox program, and learn what options we have that are right for you.