Common Addiction Myths
Drug and
Myth: I Can’t Overdose – I Don’t Use a Lot of Drugs
Overdoses are not always predictable. Most people have no idea how much of a drug it will take for an overdose to occur. In 2018, 67,300 Americans died from overdose due to illicit or prescription opioids. Most of these people had no idea that would be their last use. For some, it was their first time using the drug.
Overdose does not occur only with heroin or opioid use. It can happen with prescription drugs, alcohol, and other illicit drugs. There are no “safe” drugs.
Myth: I Can Stop When I Want To
If that’s the case, give it a try. When you go without drugs or alcohol for a period of 24 to 48 hours and don’t give in, that’s a good sign. For most people who have used drugs for a long time or use highly addictive drugs, cravings and withdrawal symptoms occur. Some of the most common include:
- Intense cravings and thoughts about the drug
- Pain, including muscle pain
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches and dizziness
- Paranoia or significant anxiety
If you feel these symptoms or others, that’s an indication of dependency, a component of addiction. It’s not easy to simply cease drug use; for many people, it’s impossible to stop without help.
Myth: It’s Just About Willpower
Some people just want their loved one to put down the drink or drug and walk away from it. It just takes some willpower, right? Wrong. The problem here has to do with physical dependence–the brain needs the drug in order to function normally. If giving up drugs or alcohol was a matter of willpower, most people would walk away rather than go through the pain and health complications related to addiction.
Myth: Prescription Medications Are Safe to Use
It’s true that prescription medications are safe to use for most people if they follow their doctor’s orders and the specific treatment guidelines provided. However, even then, over time, addiction can form. In Louisiana, for example, nearly 40 percent of the 1140 reported overdose deaths in 2018 came from the use of opioids. The state was among the top five in the number of opioid-based prescriptions written by doctors.
Myth: I Have to Hit Rock Bottom Before I Can Recover
This is a damaging myth that can cause a person to lose their life. Addiction worsens over time, causing health complications, brain function damage, and numerous challenges in life. The longer a person puts off treatment, the more likely they are to struggle to get and stay sober. The sooner they get care, the faster treatment works to restore their future.
Myth: Treatment Doesn’t Work – I Already Failed
Those who struggle with relapse often do so because of their environment, a lack of support, or, in some cases because the therapy they received wasn’t enough. You can relapse – and up to 40 percent of people do. That doesn’t mean that you have failed–or that you are doomed to relapse again. Drug treatment can be very effective for many people if embraced and utilized fully.
Making the Decision to Get Drug and Alcohol Treatment
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When you choose to enter treatment, you will benefit from:
- Improved health conditions
- More mental clarity
- Better control over your life decisions
- Improved relationships
- New opportunities
You have to make the decision to get help. Once you do, you’ll find it’s possible to overcome your addiction and reclaim your future.
