It is often believed that those struggling with addiction can simply quit using whenever they choose to do so. However, the reality of addiction involves a complex interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors that make quitting extremely difficult without professional help. But return to my claim that no one would change their minds due to logic, evidence, experience, and the lack of efficacy of our efforts to curtail drug addiction and death, as indeed my audience wasn’t prepared to do. Finally, one woman answered that people were turning to street drugs when they failed to get prescribed painkillers. In my recent presentations, I have begun by warning audiences that I will undercut all of their fundamental beliefs about addiction — but that if that prospect seemed alarming, they shouldn’t worry. They wouldn’t change their thinking no matter what evidence I presented, even if the consequences of their not doing so took the form of continuing spiraling drug death rates.
When you complete your initial program, it will be wise to avoid the people and situations that may cause you to crave alcohol or other substances. You might not want to accept a friend’s invitation to head out to a club, or you might skip going to a house party where you know drugs will be present. You may also find it’s beneficial to avoid certain friends or groups of people if they played a role in encouraging you to use.
In fact, prescription opioids are the most commonly abused prescription drugs. There is a common misconception that addiction only affects individuals who come from a troubled upbringing or have certain personality traits. This stigma can prevent people from seeking help and perpetuate the belief that addiction is a moral failing rather can cocaine kill you than a chronic disease. Many individuals have negative perceptions and misconceptions about addiction and recovery. Societal stigma, media portrayals, and lack of education on the topic often perpetuate these myths. However, it is important to debunk these myths to promote understanding and support for those struggling with addiction.
While an inpatient alcohol and drug rehab program may have been a fantastic choice for your mom, your coworker may benefit more from an outpatient drug rehab program. Much of it will depend on personal circumstances, the person’s current and past drug use, and any previous treatment they have received in the past. The stigma surrounding addiction implies that addicted people lack morals, but this assumption is completely unfounded.
You could also consider outpatient programs made to let you maintain your independence while seeking addiction recovery treatment. First, when your body begins to experience intense withdrawal symptoms, they may be so unbearable that you could be tempted to give up and seek out drugs or alcohol to stop them. People are often hesitant alcohol and anxiety to enter recovery because of some of the myths they’ve heard about recovery programs or myths about substance misuse itself. If you’re like most people, you’ve probably heard a lot about drug addiction, but you haven’t heard much about recovery programs or what happens to someone when they decide to fight their addiction.
I answered that this was a logical and true answer, since getting drugs on the street was always more deadly than taking drugs under medical supervision. But I added that this was not a sufficient explanation for drug deaths due to everything from stimulants to the whole array of depressant-analgesic drugs rising in lockstep. This doesn’t mean previous treatments failed, because the person with addiction still made progress overall in getting well. A recurrence may be a sign that the treatment approach or other supports need to change, or that other treatment methods are needed.
It also gives you someone to turn to who understands what you’re dealing with and won’t judge you for it. 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. In some cases, these symptoms can be so uncomfortable that a person will seek to return to their addiction simply to ease their pain.
In truth, MAT is a highly effective treatment that helps manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It allows individuals to focus on recovery without the constant struggle of intense cravings. Being issued an ultimatum alcoholism: causes risk factors and symptoms or feeling otherwise “forced” into rehab could make some people resistant to treatment, at first. Between 40 and 60% of people dealing with addiction will relapse, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Many drug rehab centers accept insurance, though not all insurance providers cover rehab. Overdose-related deaths in the United States have reached epidemic level. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate an average of 130 people die from opioid overdose each day.
While we do not know the exact cause of addiction, we do know there are genetic markers that point to one’s susceptibility to becoming addicted. There are biological reasons why one struggles with drugs and alcohol, just as there are environmental factors. Doing or not doing a drug is your choice, but it’s a hard one you may lose power over, especially when your body and mind are addicted to the substance. Just as you can’t choose to not have cancer, you cannot choose to not suffer from addiction. They are people struggling with underlying issues that lead them to use. Often these underlying issues are untreated mental health disorders.
It’s true that substance dependency and addiction is an urgent issue in the U.S. Every year millions of individuals are struggling with some type of drug abuse or dependency. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) often gets a bad rap as simply replacing one addiction with another.
These false beliefs contribute to stigma and may prevent many from seeking the help they need. By challenging this stereotype, we can better understand the complexities of addiction and support individuals in seeking the help they need to maintain or rebuild their lives. The belief that addiction recovery follows a straightforward, linear path can lead to unrealistic expectations and disappointment when the journey inevitably encounters setbacks or challenges. Recovery from addiction is a lifelong process that often involves ups and downs, progress and setbacks, and periods of growth and struggle.
If someone you love relapses, or if you relapse yourself, don’t give up hope. It can even serve as a helpful tool to teach addicts about the changes they need to make to see long-term improvement. For many people, spending a period surrounded by those who are also struggling and having access to trained professionals is crucial for taking steps to beat addiction.
If not weaned off properly, they have the potential to be more addicting than the initial drug at hand. The support of those going through the same burdening dilemma can be a secret weapon in recovery. When a problem has been defined as a problem, the source should be removed — unless it is a life necessity such as food or sex. By using less, you are still using and depending on a substance with potentially dangerous effects.
Addiction is a hot topic for discussion and it’s ripe with misinformation and myths. It is a highly charged topic and many tend to have strong opinions about it, even if it has not affected them personally. These myths create stigmas about substance abuse that make it difficult for people to seek help. Common misconceptions about addiction and the character of a person can make it difficult for someone to willingly ask for help. Many would rather lie and struggle with addiction in silence than face the judgment of their friends, co-workers, family, and loved ones. It is time that we work on breaking the stigma of addiction and addiction recovery.
Recognizing the complexities of addiction and the importance of comprehensive treatment can help individuals seek the help they need. Reaching out to an addiction treatment center provides early intervention services to help individuals begin their recovery journey before reaching a critical point. These centers offer comprehensive assessments and personalized treatment plans to address addiction at any stage. By seeking help early, individuals can avoid the more severe consequences of addiction and start their path to recovery sooner. The notion that prescription drugs are inherently non-addictive is misleading.
Deciding to enter an addiction recovery program is courageous because it’s about more than just sharing your feelings or finding the willpower to quit using. Addiction recovery addresses your physical, mental and emotional needs, and that requires effort. Whether you are contemplating this decision or it’s already been made, you should be proud of yourself for taking this important first step.
Inpatient centers provide a safe place to begin the detox and recovery process at any stage of addiction. Some facilities are expensive, but it’s possible to find affordable centers that will work with you to find a treatment program that’s right for your needs and your budget. Some people choose to enter rehab on their own, but some people experiencing addiction may not see its effects on their life, or they may not believe they have a problem with substance abuse. They may only decide to enter rehab grudgingly, after a court order or intervention from loved ones. Addiction not only contributes to emotional and physical health concerns, it can also lead to homelessness, unemployment, debt, and breakup or divorce.
