Common Myths About Addiction Recovery

By: Alexandra Green

There are so many myths and assumptions surrounding addiction and recovery. Moreover, there's also a lot of shame and embarrassment tied to this process that stops people from genuinely engaging in this topic. All of this makes it difficult for friends and family members to properly comprehend and sympathize with what their loved one in recovery is going through. If someone you know is in recovery, the first thing you need to do is educate yourself to be able to distinguish facts from the common myths about addiction recovery.

Myth #1: Those In Recovery Must Want Treatment For It To Be Effective

One of the most common myths about addiction recovery is that the person in recovery has to want to get better in order to actually get better. This is entirely false. Most of the people in recovery don't want treatments for their addictions. The majority of them are only getting treatments because their family members pushed them to do it, or they got a court order. If it weren't for their families to encourage them and support them through this process, they might have never taken that step by themselves. Expecting them to honestly want to stop using is unrealistic.

Furthermore, some studies show that those who undergo treatment under duress perform better in treatment than those who don't. As a result, seeking treatment does not guarantee a positive outcome or recovery. 

Myth #2: You Have To Hit "Rock Bottom" To Have A Successful Recovery

Not only is this not true, but it's also a very harmful misconception. The longer you wait and put off treatment, the worse the person becomes, which can lead to death. 

It's critical to recognize whether addiction is getting out of hand early on. Waiting to jump in and help until your loved one hits rock bottom is very risky. Moreover, the longer they put off treatment, the looser their definition of "rock bottom" may become. Instead, try to help them start the journey to recovery as soon as possible. However, it's important you don't be judgemental about it. Try to make your loved one feel understood and supported instead of shamed and pushed into treatment.

Myth #3: Relapse Means The Treatment Failed

Some people revert to alcohol or drug usage after completing treatment. Relapse like this is a common occurrence, and many individuals believe it indicates that therapy has failed. That's a myth and a very unhealthy way to look at it.

Addiction recovery, like treatment, is a process. Recovery is something that differs from person to person. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy since everyone's route to recovery is unique, just as everyone's life experiences are. As a result, no one can promise that treatment will succeed the first time. Some people have to go through the whole process many times to actually get better. However, this doesn't mean relapse is something good or wanted. If you think your loved one in recovery might've relapsed or is likely to, some common warning signs to look out for could help you prevent this. If you can help prevent a relapse, that's better than starting the cycle from the beginning again.

Myth #4: There Is A "One Right Way" To Treat Addiction

Some people believe that there needs to be a treatment or a cure for addiction that will work for everyone. This is simply impossible. There is no single treatment that will completely eliminate addiction. Different people acquire their addictions in different ways, and those can sometimes co-occur with psychiatric disorders. You have to take all of this into account when deciding on their treatment. Moreover, even when multiple people seek treatment for the same addictive drug, they all respond to the treatment differently. That's why, in order to achieve long-term recovery, each person requires a therapy that's custom-tailored to them. 

Myth #5: Medication-Assisted Treatment Just Replaces One Addiction With Another 

Opioid use disorder, which includes addictions to heroin and prescription pain relievers, can be treated with methadone. Many believe that this treatment just replaces one drug addiction with another. That can't be further from the truth. Moreover, nobody would ever say that about any other type of medication. 

While a person on MAT is technically dependent on the drug, it's not the same thing as addiction. They would go through withdrawal if they stopped taking their meds, but the medicine is what helps them prevent addictive behavior. It's just a trade-off between addiction and dependency, which many individuals are willing to make. In order for them to function normally every day, they can't just go "cold turkey" and drop it entirely. On MAT, they can continue to go about their day, work, take care of their families, etc. Furthermore, it's important to note that medication used in these treatments for addictions has a drastically lower danger of a lethal overdose.

Myth #6: You Can Get Better On Your Own

No man is an island, not even a person going through recovery. Although having a strong desire to quit can help you or your loved one go through treatment, it won't be enough on its own. The therapy provides expert counsel from individuals who can help. It also offers accountability, structure, and support to keep you or your loved one from reverting to old patterns once the process is completed.

6 Common Myths About Addiction Recovery - Final Thoughts

When it comes to addiction recovery, it's important to differentiate facts from fiction. There are many misconceptions and common myths about addiction recovery circling around, and you mustn't fall for them. Many of them are just used to further shame and destigmatize people in recovery. Sometimes they're even used as excuses by people who are unwilling to help. And, what's worse, they're all very harmful. None of them can help you or your loved one who's going through this actually get better. However, what can help is taking the time to educate yourself on what's actually true and what's just a myth.

By: Alexandra Green