Have you ever been absolutely positive about one “fact” or another? Have you been so certain you were right about something that you always “corrected” other people when they said something that contradicted what you know to be true? And have you ever discovered that you were, in fact, wrong the whole time?
It is a pretty embarrassing scenario when you have to face up to being so wrong for so long—and so confidently. Even worse, however, are the people who confidently spout incorrect information and never discover—or at least never admit—they are wrong.
Unfortunately, that sort of stubborn misinformation is often bandied about by people who think they know a thing or two about substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery. People will offer uninformed opinions, make hurtful claims, and adopt a tone of judgment when discussing these topics—even when they are discussing them with a person who is struggling or has struggled with drugs or alcohol. That bad information can lead to bad decisions on the part of the person who internalizes it.
To prevent that, we are devoting a series of posts to debunking myths and misinformation. We will start with three examples of incorrect information in this post.
Misinformation: People choose addiction. They could simply stop using drugs or alcohol if they choose to.
This is a prevalent myth—and it has several variations. Someone might tell you that giving up drugs or alcohol is simply a matter of willpower. Others might frame it as a question of your character. And still others who come at the question from a religious point of view might tell you that you could overcome a substance use disorder if you just had more faith.
Ascribing addiction to a lack of willpower, character, or faith is absolutely incorrect. Indeed, the word “addiction” often hides an important fact. A substance use disorder is, in fact, a disorder—a chronic brain disease—and not a moral failing. Using of drugs or alcohol leads to changes in your brain chemistry that cause you to crave the substances even when it becomes clear that you are being harmed by them. The rigors of withdrawal, meanwhile, make it exceptionally difficult to give up drugs or alcohol on your own. None of that has anything to do with your personal will, character, or faith.
Misinformation: If a drug is legal, it must be safe.
It is easy to understand how someone might come to this conclusion. If a substance were dangerous, why would it be legal? But there are, of course, plenty of examples of substances that are legal and clearly harmful to many, many people. Alcohol, nicotine, and increasingly marijuana are all legal—and all of them can lead to negative consequences for their users. Prescription medications (including, for example, prescription pain killers) are also legal, but misuse of them can also lead to serious consequences. Those consequences can certainly include the development of a substance use disorder.
Misinformation: If someone is successful, they clearly are not addicted to drugs or alcohol.
In the early stages of a substance use disorder, it might be possible for a person to continue to have success at work or school, to maintain their relationships, and to pursue their goals. In fact, some people fool themselves into believing that drugs or alcohol actually help them achieve ongoing success.
But the truth is that the negative effects of drug or alcohol use catch up to everyone eventually. Ignoring a substance use disorder because you do not think it is undermining your life in any particular way invites significant damage to your mental and physical health, a bit further down the line. And those issues can lead to damaged relationships, an inability to work or study, and much, much more—none of it good.
More Misinformation Debunked in Upcoming Blogs
We wish we could say that we have tackled all of the incorrect ideas you might encounter about substance use disorders, their treatment, and the recovery journey. But that, too, would be misinformation.
So, we will tackle additional instances of unhelpful mythmaking in forthcoming entries. Our goal is to arm you with the facts so that you know how to proceed when it comes to dealing with a problem with drugs or alcohol.
Here Is a Truth You Can Rely On: We Can Help
Located in Mesa, Arizona, Canyon Vista Recovery Center treats individuals who are struggling with a substance use disorder. We can also address mental health disorders—including depression, anxiety, issues stemming from traumatic experiences, and more—that may be entangled with a substance use disorder.
At Canyon Vista, you can count on personalized treatment plans grounded in evidence-based practices and supported by our expertise, experience, and empathy. You may feel trapped by your substance use disorder, but we can help you escape the grip of drugs or alcohol so that you can rebuild your life, your relationships, and your dreams.
When you are ready to make an essential change, we are ready to help make it possible.
