This is the third of three entries in our series addressing myths and misinformation about substance use disorders, treatment, and recovery. (You can find the first two parts of the series here and here.)
Our central idea for this series has been that many people—often well-meaning people—have thoughts about recovery that are simply wrong. They might fervently believe these ideas are true, and as a result, they might think they are helping those who are struggling with drugs or alcohol by sharing them. Unfortunately, the reverse is often true because bad information has a way of leading to bad outcomes.
Let’s start this myth-busting session with something that is good for sandwiches and bad for recovery.
Misinformation: The best way to give up drugs or alcohol is ‘cold turkey.’
Make no mistake: We think a cold turkey sandwich on the day after Thanksgiving is delicious. But the idea of quitting drugs or alcohol ‘cold turkey’—that is suddenly and all at once—is a terrible idea.
While the notion of simply quitting might appeal to those who believe the myth that overcoming a substance use disorder is a matter of character, faith, or willpower, the simple fact is that quitting cold turkey is rarely effective and often quite dangerous.
That is true because your body and brain come to expect drugs or alcohol when you have been using them for an extended period. When they don’t arrive, your body and brain respond by sending out urgent requests in the form of withdrawal symptoms like intense cravings. Now you are caught in a trap—you want to give up the drugs because they are undermining your life but you can’t because the symptoms of withdrawal are undermining your efforts.
How do you spring the trap? The best path for getting substances out of your system is to pursue medically supervised detoxification in an environment that is safe and free of temptations.
Misinformation: A life in recovery is a boring life.
This bit of bad information can be particularly dangerous. If you come to believe that the only routes to happiness or enjoyment involve drugs or alcohol, you are likely to make some unwise decisions. After all, no one wants to be lonely or unhappy or bored, and it can be all too tempting to believe that substances can help you evade those feelings by making you more sociable, more upbeat, and more excited about life.
But it simply is not true that you need drugs or alcohol to lead a satisfying life. Indeed, you may quickly discover that you enjoy life significantly more once you have put drugs or alcohol behind you. That is true for a number of reasons including the fact that you are not suffering from the physical and mental deterioration that comes with consistent substance use—or the “morning after” impacts of a night spent partying with drugs or alcohol. You can also make and retain more positive memories if your experiences are not lost in a haze of drugs.
Once you are in recovery, you might need to plan carefully to ensure you can enjoy your life in ways that do not expose you to temptations that might undermine your efforts. But the need for planning is well worth it as you regain control of your life—and your ability to take pleasure from it.
Misinformation: Treatment for a substance use disorder is only effective if you want to pursue it.
We certainly believe that a person struggling with a substance use disorder is best served by getting into treatment right away. But it perhaps goes without saying that it can be devilishly difficult to make good decisions when your mind is addled by the impacts of drugs or alcohol. It might also be the case that an individual is worried about their reputation or even that they deny they have a problem. In any event, many folks who need treatment are unlikely to pursue it on their own.
Fortunately, some people can be convinced to get help by a loved one. In other cases, people are sent to treatment as a result of a court order. In cases where the decision has been made for a person rather than by them, it would only be natural to assume that a sense of resentment might undermine the effectiveness of the process. But that does not seem to be the case.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “scientific studies have shown convincingly that those who enter drug treatment programs in which they face ‘high pressure’ to confront and attempt to surmount their addiction do comparatively better in treatment, regardless of the reason they sought treatment in the first place.” In other words, treatment can be successful even if the person receiving it did not seek it out on their own.
We Are Here to Help You
At Canyon Vista Recovery Center, located in Mesa, Arizona, we help people take back their lives from drugs or alcohol. Each day of our treatment program is structured to encourage growth and build resilience so that you can begin your recovery journey with confidence.
We’ll see you through medically supervised detoxification and a rehabilitation program that includes group and individual therapy. We’re always ready to help.
