myth about addiction

There are many things that can motivate a person to enter and complete substance abuse treatment before they hit rock bottom. Pressure from family members and employers, as well as personal recognition that they have a problem, can be powerful motivating factors for individuals to seek treatment.As with treatment for many other chronic diseases, earlier intervention and treatment for substance use disorders has higher success rates, and is less costly. Research has shown that the most effective treatment is individualized; readily available; long term; and addresses the multiple, complex needs of the individual, not just the substance use disorder.

Many addiction treatments can and should include medication. A variety of medications, when prescribed, monitored, and adjusted by a good psychiatrist, in combination with behavioral therapies, dramatically up the odds of successful treatmentthe impact of medications can be profound

People with addictions may behave in a way that is in violation of their own personal values or the laws of society. If one simply looks at the behavior of a person with addiction, they may believe that the person with addiction is, at their core, a bad person. Addiction is caused by chemical changes in the brain. Therefore addiction is about the brain, not about morals.

The leading authorities on addiction agree that addiction is a chronic disease similar to heart disease, diabetes and cancer, addicts are still treated as second class citizens. Many treatment centers believe confrontational, shame based methods are necessary to motivate addicts. Quite the contrary. In addition to contributing to the stigma of addiction and deterring people from seeking treatment, research shows that shame is a strong predictor of relapse.

Addiction affects all aspects of the person s life, including their communication and relationships with their families. It is important for families to be involved in their loved one s treatment in order to work on improving their communication and learning more about addiction.

There are similarities between types of treatment programs, individual results vary a lot. Much depends on the individual and their particular addiction, their personal history and the support that is available to them.

Some people will begin to demonstrate alcoholic behavior the first time they drink. Others will drink their whole lives without ever showing signs of alcoholic behavior. And still others, after drinking for some time, will begin to develop signs of alcoholism. It appears to depend on the individual.

There is more illicit drug users than there are alcoholics, every year there are many times more alcohol related deaths than there are drug related deaths.

The amount of alcohol it takes to make someone pass out is close to the amount that will cause death. Their body will continue to process any drinks taken just before they passed out, possibly increasing their blood alcohol to the point that they may go into cardiac arrest. Also, if they throw up while passed out they could choke and die. Do not leave someone who has passed out alone. They need to be watched over until they have returned to consciousness so that medical attention can be sought if they get into difficulty.

Unless you are holding them down and pouring the drinks down their throat, it is not your fault. Often there is no fault at all. Depending on their genetic makeup, childhood background and environment, their alcoholism may be out of their control. This does not mean that treatment won t help. It often does. But in any circumstances, it is not your fault.