Addiction treatment needs vary from person to person, and not all treatments are effective for every individual. Fortunately, researchers and other experts are helping to educate the public on the scientific reality of addiction to remove stigma and make care more accessible. Marijuana should be legalized, but not because it’s safe, especially for teenagers alcoholism and mental health and young adults. It should be legalized because we must treat marijuana use like all drug use — as a health issue. The fact that it is illegal just drives using marijuana underground. The last thing we want to do is increase those things by kicking kids out of school or throwing them into the criminal justice system because they were caught smoking pot.
Circumstances such as mental illness, trauma, and genetics can play a role, and it can happen to anyone. As we mentioned, when drug addiction is present, the brain has been chemically altered, which makes it hard for a person to control impulses. So, even if they want to quit taking drugs or drinking, they cannot. Doctors can prescribe medications that are effective for treating pain and other conditions. However, these drugs are very dangerous when abused, primarily when it occurs with young adults and teens. Many prescription drugs are commonly abused, including narcotic pain medications, ADHD medications, and anxiety drugs.
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 other cases, if a person is going through withdrawal and experiences more severe symptoms such as a seizure, they are in danger of serious injury or death if they attempt to face this alone. Addiction is a chronic, long-term condition that can be managed but can’t be how to relax your mind after a ridiculously hard day at work cured. While some can quit after receiving treatment once at a rehabilitation facility, most of the individuals living with substance abuse require long-term treatment and, in certain cases, repeated treatment. Based on this data, it is clear that substance use disorders are far more common than many people realize. Providing compassionate care is key to countering the ongoing public health crisis.
Based on the individual’s situation, both can be possible or impossible. 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. No one will claim the pinnacle of his or her life was on some bender. Benders may feel good at the time, but not the kind of soul-tickling good you feel when falling in love, learning something new or getting a promotion.
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- Additionally, overcoming addiction alone can be dangerous and even fatal because withdrawal symptoms can lead to death in certain situations.
- This drug also negatively affects the body’s kidneys, liver, stomach, and even the brain.
- This means that they bind to the same opioid receptors in the brain that opioids like oxycodone, heroin and fentanyl do, and provide relief from withdrawal symptoms.
We have identified many of the biological and environmental risk factors and are beginning to search for the genetic variations that contribute to the development and progression of the disorder. Scientists use this knowledge to develop effective prevention and treatment approaches that reduce the toll drug use takes on individuals, is there a connection between narcissism and alcoholism families, and communities. Even though the leading authorities on addiction agree that addiction is a chronic disease similar to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, addicts are still treated as second-class citizens. Many treatment centers believe confrontational, shame-based methods are necessary to motivate addicts.
This drug also negatively affects the body’s kidneys, liver, stomach, and even the brain. Actually, alcoholism kills more people than any other substance. Supervised withdrawal and medical assistance can help ensure a safer, more comfortable detoxification process and reduce the risk of relapse. While personal determination and motivation are certainly important factors in the recovery process, addiction is a complex disease that often requires professional help and evidence-based treatments. Relapse rates for addiction are high, indicating that overcoming addiction is not as simple as just “quitting” and that ongoing support is crucial for maintaining sobriety.
Debunking Myths About Addiction Recovery
The easy solution we seek instead of facing reality is to label addiction a medical problem. And it is these things that my online Life Process Program for addiction addresses. 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.
However, if this extremely low point can be avoided, then you should avoid it. Withdrawal is doubtless proof of the difference between a drug being a pleasurable want and a need to survive. After prolonged use, withdrawal can be highly painful and in some cases even deadly. Wake Forest University performed a study on monkeys that found a correlation between their hierarchy and the amount of cocaine they wanted.
Addiction Myth #19: Detox and Rehab Are The Same Things.
At Gateway, we don’t offer a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment because we believe that each person is an individual who needs individual attention. Medically supervised withdrawal is a broad phrase that covers many different approaches. One of these approaches is using certain medications to ease cravings and help regulate brain chemicals while you’re going through withdrawal.
Myth #1: You aren’t really in recovery if you’re on Suboxone.
It’s important to define opioid addiction carefully, because the stigma is so strong. Someone who is prescribed opioid medications for pain for prolonged periods may develop tolerance, which means they need a higher dose to get pain relief. Or they may experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the medication. For much of the past century, scientists studying drugs and drug use labored in the shadows of powerful myths and misconceptions about the nature of addiction. When scientists began to study addictive behavior in the 1930s, people with an addiction were thought to be morally flawed and lacking in willpower. Those views shaped society’s responses to drug use, treating it as a moral failing rather than a health problem, which led to an emphasis on punishment rather than prevention and treatment.
Myth 8: All Treatments Are Effective
Some people think that an opioid addiction is just psychological or a weakness of character, and that people who are addicted simply don’t have the willpower to stop. Long-time use of opioids in an addictive way actually alters brain functioning. It causes chronic and lasting changes in the brain reward system, causing the person to feel less motivation and get less pleasure from other, naturally occurring rewards. Opioids become the primary reward and the primary focus of the person’s life, and they need more of it to activate the reward system. For many addicts, the impact of medications can be profound — even lifesaving.
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The stereotype surrounding addiction usually includes features such as being a young male minority from a low socio-economic background. They are usually imagined as being unemployed and involved in criminal activity. Use of this website and any information contained herein is governed by the Healthgrades User Agreement. The content on Healthgrades does not provide medical advice. Always consult a medical provider for diagnosis and treatment.
Have you ever been so upset that you’ve reacted with emotion before thought? As always, it is important to be critical when seeking help, since the quality of counselors are not consistent. If you are not feeling supported, it may be helpful to seek out another practitioner. If you are struggling with other mental health issues or are looking for a specialist near you, use the Psychology Today therapist directory here to find a practitioner who specializes in your area of concern.
Addiction Myth #9: Addicts Can Just Stop When They Want
When choosing your rehab, make sure they are certified and look for one that offers customized treatment programs. Just as no two people are alike, no two recoveries are the same. Prescribed drugs contribute to the majority of overdoses and addictions. Taking a potentially addictive drug, strictly how it’s prescribed, requires self-discipline and education.
Ultimately, love and support are what encourage change, not punishment and rejection. These overwhelming impulses help explain the compulsive and often irrational behavior around addiction.
