PART 2 : ALCOHOL & DRUG USE
Addiction Myths vs. Facts
- Myth # 1
- Overcoming addiction is simply a matter of willpower. You can stop using drugs if you really want to.
- Fact # 1
- Prolonged drug use changes the brain in ways that make it extremely difficult to quit by sheer force of will. Support and proper treatment is required.
- Myth # 2
- Addiction is a disease; there’s nothing you can do about it.
- Fact # 2
- Being diagnosed with a substance use disorder doesn’t mean you are a helpless victim. Addiction can be treated and healed through therapy, medication, exercise, mindfulness and other treatments.
- Myth # 3
- Addicts have to hit rock bottom before they can get better.
- Fact # 3
- Recovery can begin at any point in the addiction process—and the earlier, the better. The longer problematic substance use continues, the stronger the addiction becomes and the harder it is to treat. Don’t wait to intervene until a person has lost it all because reaching people early, when their problems are less severe and more treatable, leads to better outcomes.
- Myth # 4
- You can’t force someone into treatment; they have to want help.
- Fact # 4
- Feeling conflicted is a natural part of change. Encouraging people to explore the reasons for engaging in a change process AND the reasons why they lack confidence to change can increase motivation to explore the next steps in the change process.
- Myth # 5
- Treatment didn’t work before, so there’s no point trying again.
- Fact # 5
- Behaviour change typically occurs in small steps over a long period of time. These usually lead to big changes in the ability to cope and improve quality of life.