Addiction continues to be an illness that is greatly misunderstood. And because of this there are some myths about addiction that exist among the general public. This article will address five of the many myths about addiction and reveal the truths behind them.
5 Myths of Addiction
- Addicts have an addictive personality. When looking at the general character traits of those who have an addiction, it’s common to believe that there exists an addictive personality. However, there is no such diagnosis as an Addictive Personality Disorder, nor is there a specific personality that a clinician can label as being addictive. Addiction is an illness that is found across all social groups and people with all sorts of personalities can be vulnerable to addiction. However, recent research does show that there are certain people who have a genetic disposition to addiction. And they may be more vulnerable to developing an addition than others.
- An addict needs to hit rock bottom in order to finally agree to treatment. Although this is a popular belief, this is not always true. Hitting bottom can sometimes mean losing a job, losing a marriage or children, and even becoming homeless. Often, once an addiction gets this bad, an individual is willing to do anything it takes to change. Yet, there are thousands of men and women who do not hit rock bottom but simply recognize that their substance use has become problematic. And with this recognition, they seek treatment.
- There is one form of addiction treatment that works for all addicts. This was a common belief even among mental health professionals prior to recent research on addiction and recovery. In the last ten years, research shows that women and men vary greatly in their recovery needs. Teens and adults are also very different in why they use substances, how they recovery, and the needs they have throughout recovery. One treatment does not work for everyone. And today, treatment centers are beginning to provide addiction services accordingly.
- You have to want drug treatment for it to be successful. Many men and women are forced into addiction treatment because of legal consequences. However, this doesn’t mean that a person won’t benefit from the experience. In fact, many people find that being forced into treatment was exactly what they needed to finally do it. It’s highly possible that someone who enters drug treatment, even against their will, might find treatment meaningful and supportive.
- People use drugs and drink because they want to. In the beginning, yes, this is most often the case. However, once a person is drinking or using drugs on a regular basis, and especially when addiction sets in, their use of drugs and alcohol becomes compulsive. In other words, they actually might want to stop using substances, but the illness of addiction has created compulsory behavior. Addiction affects the brain in such a way that makes a person believe that they need the substance in order to survive, and this can lead to the compulsory behavior.
The above list includes myths about addiction and the truths behind those myths. When addiction is better understood among the general public, there will be less stigma and judgment against those who suffer from addiction.
If you are reading this on any other blog than The Lakehouse Recovery Center or via my RSS Feed, it is stolen content without credit.
Follow us on twitter @TheLakehouseRC
Come and visit our blog at https://lakehouserecoverycenter.com/blog/