myth about addiction

Treatment does not have to be voluntary. People coerced into treatment by the legal system can be just as successful as those who enter treatment voluntarily. Sometimes they do better, as they are more likely to remain in treatment longer and to complete the program. In 1999, over half of adolescents admitted into treatment were directed to do so by the criminal justice system.

Its a brain disease and it can happen to anyone.Every type of drug of abuse has its own individual mechanism for changing how the brain functions. But regardless of which drug a person is addicted to, many of the effects it has on the brain are similar: they range from changes in the molecules and cells that make up the brain, to mood changes, to changes in memory processes and in such motor skills as walking and talking. And these changes have a huge influence on all aspects of a persons behavior. The drug becomes the single most powerful motivator in adrug abusers existence. He or she will do almost anything for the drug .

There is no one size fits all form of drug treatment, much less a magic bullet that suddenly will cure addiction. Different people have different drug abuse related problems. And they respond very differently to similar forms of treatment, even when theyre abusing the same drug. As a result, drug addicts need an array of treatments and services to address their unique needs.

Inhalants enter the blood and go through the body in seconds. Sniffing larger amounts can cause a heart attack or death from suffocation because inhalants replace oxygen in the lungs.

Long after the effects of the drug stop being felt, the drug can still be in the body. cocaine can be found in the body up to one week and marijuana up to 3 months after a single use.

Like many other illnesses, drug addiction typically is a chronic disorder. To be sure, some people can quit drug use cold turkey, or they can quit after receiving treatment just one time at a rehabilitation facility. But most of those who abuse drugs require longer term treatment and, in many instances, repeated treatments.

Treatment can help people. Studies show drug treatment reduces drug use by 40 to 60 percent and can significantly decrease criminal activity during and after treatment. There is also evidence that drug addiction treatment reduces the risk of HIV infection (intravenous drug users who enter and stay in treatment are up to six times less likely to become infected with HIV than other users) and improves the prospects for employment, with gains of up to 40 percent after treatment.

Once alcohol is in the bloodstream, only time will make a person sober.

The bad news is that relapse is an all too common problem with recovery, but the good news is that people do recover from addictions, sometimes after many relapses. A relapse does not mean that the person will never get better, but it can be a sign that their treatment needs to be altered. There are many forms of treatment and recovery is a reality for many people every day.

Someone in the family always knows where she/he is and how she/he is doing. She/he is always updated on family information. Recovery of the addicted individual and healing of the family depends on becoming reconnected.