10 Myths About Addiction And Recovery

With the proper guidance and supervision, prescription medications can provide important, and sometimes life-saving, support during withdrawal. Once a patient reaches a certain point in their progress, their medical team can then begin to ease up on the use of medications to treat their symptoms. Some people are skeptical about using a prescription drug to treat a physical dependence caused by a drug. However, these medications are considered an essential tool in reducing the chances of a patient causing harm to themselves or someone else during the withdrawal process.

Once you get these under control and learn some recovery skills, there’s a good chance you will be able to manage your addictive behavior. There’s a reason most addiction recovery methods are group-based. It’s been found that overcoming addictive behaviors is more manageable when surrounded by people who understand what you’re going through.

• Despite the fact that prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions in the past decade, the use of “legal” drugs to get high carries less stigma than the use of illicit drugs.
• In general, our business practices limit employee access to confidential information, and limit the use and disclosure of such information to authorized persons, processes and transactions.
• Prescription medications such as sedatives, stimulants and painkillers are highly addictive and have many potential harmful effects.

However, the reality is that people have no more choice about becoming an addict than they do any other illness. We don’t look down on people who have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Addicts/alcoholics come in many forms — even if the individual has not hit the stereotypical ‘rock bottom,’ he or she can still benefit from drug and alcohol treatment. The ultimate goal of recovery is to prevent the all-time low from taking place.

When it comes to recovery, myths about addiction can be stumbling blocks for patients as well as their families. Many myths may have some small basis in facts or anecdotal evidence, but some are entirely false, posing a serious threat to those interested in recovery. By exploring five of the most common addiction myths; patients and their families can find the truth and get on the path toward true recovery. Brain imaging studies show that differences in the brain are both a cause and effect of addiction. Long before drugs enter the picture, there are neurobiological differences in people who become addicted compared to those who do not become addicted.

Eleven Benefits Of Family Therapy For Addiction Treatment

However, these drugs can be dangerous when abused, especially by teens and young adults. According to a report by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, among young adults aged 18–25,14% used prescription drugs for nonmedical reasonswithin the past year.

Thecost of rehab with insurancecan be much more affordable than paying on your own. Even if yourinsurance won’t cover drug rehab, some recovery centers offer financial aid or payment programs. Your employer may be willing to help with costs, or a family member may be able to help. The long-term costs of addiction are far greater than the short-term costs of medical treatment.

Myth: Having An Alcohol Addiction Is Not As Bad As Being Addicted To Drugs

Whether you are struggling with drug and alcohol addiction or it is someone you love, knowing the truth about this condition is critical. Consider a few of the most common myths that often hold people back. Some people believe that addiction treatment is very expensive, and that they can’t afford addiction recovery. It’s true that some treatment options are expensive, but there are plenty of budget-friendly options, too.

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. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you’ve probably heard a lot of well-meaning advice from people who don’t truly understand. This makes it difficult to sort out the facts about drug abuse from fiction. Here are some myths about addiction recovery, debunked by the experts who help people with treatment every day. Finding an inexpensive place to detox before you go to that less-expensive outpatient facility is another way to cut the cost. Detox facilities that are funded by state dollars or by private donations can be the best place to start.

• Visit our blog that explains the difference between heavy drinking and alcoholism.
• This makes it difficult to sort out the facts about drug abuse from fiction.
• Additionally, some studies suggest a genetic component to addiction.
• Sure, there are treatment centers that charge $20,000, $40,000 or more for their services.
• Finally, the ever-present risk of overdose means that continuing down the addiction path can lead to the ultimate price of death.

For those who are vulnerable to addiction, substance use can alter brain function and, in a sense, hijack specific aspects of its function. Addictive substances flood the brain with pleasure-enhancing chemicals which, in turn, can erode self-control and the ability to make healthy decisions. Over time, the brain begins to require even more of the substance to produce the same pleasurable effect. Detoxification is an important first step on the road to recovery, but it doesn’t stop there. Recovery is a comprehensive process that requires extensive treatment, and that treatment should include physical care, psychological counseling, and spiritual development.

This is where the strong cravings and lack of impulse control comes from. We’ve got 10 crazy addiction myths that you need to know, and we’re going to match them up with the truth. If you’ve tried treatment before, that does not mean it is time to give up. With thousands of facilities across the U.S., finding the right facility can be a difficult process.

Addiction Lead To Recovery, And Recovery Lead To Being A Good Dad

Around 247,000 people in the U.S. died from a prescription opioid overdose from 1999 to 2019. The truth is addiction doesn’t discriminate by type of drug and any substance that you abuse can be dangerous and deadly. However, it’s important to know that addiction treatment will not “fix” an addict. The psychological aspects hold the key to recovery, and treating the mind is not as straightforward as treating the body. In other words, the recovery work comes into play as soon as the addict steps out of a treatment center. If any substance abuse treatment center claims to be a “cure-all” for addiction, that’s a huge red flag!

Finally, the ever-present risk of overdose means that continuing down the addiction path can lead to the ultimate price of death. Often, the fears people have around leaving behind alcohol and other drugs are rooted in myths instead of reality. By addressing these myths head-on, Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth, Virginia would like to help ease the minds of people who are considering entering recovery. GenPsych has five treatment centers throughout New Jersey. We offer an Intensive Outpatient Program to help our clients recover from Anxiety, Depression, Eating Disorders, Alcohol and Drug Addiction. If you or a loved one need help, don’t wait, start today. Prescription medications such as sedatives, stimulants and painkillers are highly addictive and have many potential harmful effects.

• At Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth, Virginia, we seek to educate our guests and their loved ones about the realities of addiction, treatment, and recovery.
• Most of the time, people turn to drugs and alcohol as coping mechanisms.
• In other words, the recovery work comes into play as soon as the addict steps out of a treatment center.
• They often have a sixth sense about what will and won’t be effective in each case.
• The Marchman Act can result in court ordered treatment of sixty-ninety days and can be extended if necessary.
• This is especially dangerous because it makes it much more difficult for friends and family to intervene before it is too late.

This is a particularly dangerous addiction myth because it can prevent those addicted to drugs or alcohol from seeking the addiction treatment they need. While some individuals with addictions may end up in dire circumstances, many can seemingly function in their daily lives. It’s possible to be addicted to a dangerous myths about addiction and recovery substance and still go to work, drive a vehicle and socialize with friends. However, functioning in society certainly doesn’t indicate that a person isn’t also suffering from addiction. “All addicts are criminals.” Many substances are illegal which has led society to assume that those who use them are deviants.

Myth #10: Once I Complete Addiction Treatment, Im On My Own

“Marijuana is not addictive.” Yes, marijuana is addictive. Most recreational marijuana users who try to stop taking the drug experience withdrawal symptoms. The legalization of marijuana in several U.S. states has led to the misconception that marijuana is a harmless drug. Although withdrawal symptoms are not as severe as with other substances, marijuana is still addictive.

Some of the most successfully recovered addicts we see are ones that build a new life in a new place with new people. The world of addiction is often misunderstood by those on the outside. From demonizing the addict to thinking they can just “get over it” or quit cold turkey, the range of myths about addiction can be staggering. It is actually quite common for people to form cross addictions, where they simply replace their addiction with a new addiction rather than developing other coping skills. ‍For example, each year, more than 120,000 Americans opt for treatment in drug courts and they have significantly better outcomes than people who go to jail.

Science has proven addiction is a brain disease that can affect anyone. When someone uses a substance for the first time, the brain is confused.

Relapse Is A Sign Of Failure

Like many ways of treating someone, tough love has a spectrum. On the other end of the spectrum is abusive behavior, often seen as a reason to humiliate, belittle, or physically control another person. Recovery is hard and there are many things that can happen in life to trigger someone to use. Sometimes it takes going into treatment multiple times before consistent sobriety can be obtained. Relapse doesn’t always mean having to start all over from the beginning. However, holding a grudge or trying to make an addict feel guilty for things he or she did when using will not help the situation.

They may become unavailable to family and friends, steal for money or drugs, or make bad choices they wouldn’t have otherwise made. But, the fact is that they aren’t addicts because they lack moral fiber or because they are weak or bad people. They make bad choices in life because they are addicted.

Lifeskills Can Help

Red Oaks Recovery offers a way forward for individuals living with an addiction. We also have services available to help loved ones understand the disease and find their own path to healing. It takes more than love and concern to help someone with a brain disorder, which is what addiction is. You should seek support for yourself and your loved one as you both work to overcome this issue. Yes, you may have made some poor choices that led you down the road to addiction, but you are bigger than your mistakes. And when you chose to enter into a treatment program, you decided to take responsibility for your actions, which takes courage.

How Do You Cope With Depression During Stressful Times?

Being in a controlled environment like a rehab, will give them the time away from the substance they are addicted to for the brain to start to function normally. It is extremely difficult for an addict to do this on his or her own. If you are living with an addiction, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ it doesn’t mean you’re weak. Finding amedical treatment planorrecovery supportcommunity can help you heal. “It’s not uncommon for people to have multiple treatment episodes. Widespread myths about addiction recovery can discourage people from getting help.