Call 888-647-0579 to speak with an alcohol or drug abuse counselor.

Who Answers?

Common Misconceptions about Addiction

There are many misconceived ideas about addiction that lead people to make poor choices or to overlook certain consequences when addiction is a factor. Though addiction is a science that is continuously being addressed, many of the original ideas and perceptions about this disease continue to stick around in the minds of both those addicted and those trying to help. Unfortunately, these common misconceptions about addiction are causing many Americans to forgo treatment if they are addicted, push a loved one further into addiction if they are the family member of an addict or otherwise make poor choices in terms of the treatment and management of addiction.

It is estimated that almost 30% of all Americans still think that addiction is the result of moral failure or a lack of willpower. Many believe that the disease is treatable only if the addict has hit rock bottom and is ready and willing to get help and still others believe that the proper means of treatment for someone who suffers from addiction is to stigmatize them and treat them in a disrespectful manner.

Misconceptions about addiction can lead the person into relapse.

Many misunderstandings exist about addiction and some of these even carry through into the treatment field making proper treatment and care difficult to find. Despite advances in the medical field and the information that is being gathered about addiction, there is no “cure” for the disease and there are still many wrongly perceived ideas about addiction that cause difficulties for those who are already suffering enough from addiction itself.

Some still go as far as believing that addiction can be treated in just 30 days and others still think that there are few legitimate reasons for detox prior to treatment. Unfortunately, these misconceptions are often what leads an addict back into treatment over and over again. 30 days is not long enough to cure an addict and it’s usually not even enough to jump start the treatment and recovery process. Detox is vital to the successful recovery and effective psychiatric therapy cannot begin until detox has taken place.

Don’t let these misconceptions prevent you or a loved one from getting the help you need. If you are addicted to drugs or alcohol and need help, contact Treatment Centers today at 1-888-885-4616 to speak with a live counselor about your problem. We can help you find a local treatment center that can provide you with quality, effective addiction treatment.

More Treatment & Detox Articles

Drug addiction

“Drugs” is not a respected word in our dictionary. Scientifically, drugs are small fine substances that are very effective in modifying the normal regular functions of a body. The different types of drugs are identified in three basic categories namely “depressants”, “stimulants” and “hallucinogens”. Drugs are widely used by doctors and hospitals, in required proportions….

Symptoms of Substance abuse in teenagers

Substance abuse is spreading rapidly around the world and the number of teens who do substance abuse is increasing at an alarming rate. Teenagers are widely using chemical substances for altering their “mood and physical state”. The use of chemical substances beyond the prescribed limit is bound to make the body of the user dependent….

It's cruel reality TV, and the price of failure is terrifying

In the real world, there is no such thing as a typical addict. Never forget there’s a story behind each person falling prey to the demon rum or drugs or any other of the known vices. Once the benders blur together and substance abuse takes over someone’s life, the addiction becomes a social problem –….

Feds fail to use effective drug treatment plans in prison

Despite 20 years of scientific evidence showing that drug treatment programs work, the feds fail to offer enough of them to prisoners, according to a new study. Currently 7.1 million adults – over 2 percent of the population — in the U.S. are locked up or on probation; about half of them suffer from some….

Cancer Immunotherapy Shows Long-Term Promise In Lung Cancer

New, long-term results from a clinical trial presented today at the 1st European Lung Cancer Conference jointly organized by the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the International Association of the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) show that MAGE-A3 ASCI (Antigen-Specific Cancer Immunotherapeutic), an immune-boosting treatment for lung cancer patients, reduces the risk of….