They think having a significant amount of willpower is enough to avoid succumbing to addiction. 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.

• A stint in jail might be a wake-up call for many people.
• They may say or do things that make you feel inferior.
• The feeling that everything is “good” aids in the denial, rationalization, and justifications.
• The forefront of addiction and recovery is inundated with outdated and blatantly false information.
• Recognizing early that an addiction is getting out of hand is crucial.
• Recovery is not a one-size-fits-all treatment, nor is it temporary.

But this is all miniscule when it comes down to your health and ultimately, the quality of life you are living. Keeping a secret is a huge psychological burden and takes quite the effort to maintain.

Myth About Addiction: Addicts who use in private aren’t hurting anybody

Any aspect of your life being affected by the substance implies a problem that requires treatment. Rehab costs can vary depending on different factors.

Individuals under the age of 26 with no insurance are often able to use their parent’s insurance to finance treatment. Also, people who’ve struggled with addiction often enter rehab with gaps in employment and other financial hardships. myths about addiction and recovery They may also be homeless, facing eviction, or locked into an abusive relationship. Still, a significant percentage of people who enter rehab will also have a co-occurring illness that may have never been addressed and treated.

Myth: A person should only need treatment once. It should work the first time.

When you allow others to make your choices for you, by token of yielding to fear of their judgment, you are giving them to power to run your life for you. This heaven-sent dream motivated him to beat his nicotine addiction. The star of Full House and Fuller House shares how his sobriety helped him through a year of loss and grief and why he views dogs as angelic friends. And it is hope—not presenting a “good” or “holy” image to the world—that addicts need most of all. At Serenity Grove, we firmly believe that everyone can make a full recovery, regardless of their class, ethnicity, gender and medical history.

To maintain long-term recovery, it is key to understand trauma and other underlying causes of addiction and ensure that these are addressed. “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 https://ecosoberhouse.com/ that marijuana is a harmless drug. Although withdrawal symptoms are not as severe as with other substances, marijuana is still addictive. Many marijuana users view the drug as an escape from the complications of co-occurring psychiatric disorders such as depression or anxiety. Evidence suggests that the recreational use of marijuana can lead to the use of other drugs.

#1 Quitting Drugs Is a Matter of Willpower

Substitute addictions can occur when people turn to new behaviors to cope with no longer using drugs or alcohol. Don’t be fooled by the idea that a person can be a “functioning addict.” That’s another myth. Or by reassurances that, following a brief stint in treatment, the addict is “cured.” Recovery from substance abuse is a lifelong commitment, a day at a time. In my 25 years of working with people with substance use disorders, I have yet to meet a so-called skid row bum. The people I treat don’t fit the stereotypes about addicts. Also, once a person starts taking a substance, complex physiological processes can take over their ability to make sound decisions.

Rehab isn’t just a place.It’s an education and a lifestyle. It’s where you gain the skills you need to combat cravings, and where you get a taste of what your life can look like without addiction. Getting sober is just the first step on the road to recovery.Staying sober— that’s the next challenge. WebMD Connect to Care helps you find services to manage your health. When you purchase any of these services, WebMD may receive a fee. WebMD does not endorse any product, service or treatment referred to on this page. Permission to Use of MaterialsThe right to download and store or output the materials in our website is granted for the user’s personal use only, and materials may not be reproduced in any edited form.

Myth #6: Medication during detox and recovery is just switching one addiction for another.

Safe Harbor Recovery Center in Portsmouth, Virginia works with each of our guests on developing new ways to cope, with their old tool, substances, out of their lives. It’s true that certain recreational activities might not be a good idea once a person gets sober—especially if they trigger memories of past substance use.