Despite improvements in education regarding addiction rehabilitation and the processes that are carried out in centers for drug addiction treatment, many myths continue to persist. Dangerously, people who are addicted to drugs will use these myths as rational justifications for not even exploring the possibility that treatment would work for them. We have high hopes that this article debunking the top ten myths about treatment for drug addiction will clear up some widespread misunderstandings.
The Addict Must Have the Desire to Get Better for Treatment to Be Successful
Only a small percentage of addicts will voluntarily enter treatment. The majority of drug addicts enter treatment because of pressure from their families, because it is required by law, or even because their employers are willing to support them. Studies have shown, however, that the “why” behind someone’s decision to check themselves into a rehabilitation center has very little to do with whether or not they will be successful in recovering from their addiction.
You Have to Get ‘religion’
You don’t have to, but you may develop a greater awareness concerning spirituality. The 12-step fellowship model of recovery is used in treatment at many facilities that are dedicated to helping people overcome drug addiction. If you so choose, recovery from addiction can incorporate spirituality rather than religion as a central tenet.
You Shouldn’t Even Bother Going to Treatment Until You’ve Reached Your Lowest Point
Everyone experiences their unique point of rock bottom, and only they can determine when they have arrived there. A drug addict or alcoholic may finally become aware that they have a problem when their spouse leaves them, when they are embarrassed in public, or when they lose their driver’s license. It is a fallacy to believe that to benefit from drug or alcohol addiction treatment, one needs to have reached rock bottom first.
Attending Treatment is Comparable to Serving Time in Jail
A widely held fallacy. Rehab facilities for drug addiction typically have patients follow certain protocols and schedules while they are receiving treatment. After living through the mayhem of their using days, a drug addicts may find that following routines feels foreign to them. If there are any “guards,” they are the other people participating in the therapy group who are working towards recovery alongside the individual being treated.
The majority of drug and alcohol treatment facilities are designed to feel more like quaint boutique hotels; they offer tasty meals, and the atmosphere is warm and supportive. If you don’t get the impression that the staff is friendly and professional, you might want to reconsider whether or not you’re in a good drug rehab program.
You Are a Hopeless Case if You Experience a Relapse After Undergoing Treatment
Not everyone can maintain their sobriety after completing treatment. An addiction to drugs is a chronic disease, and the risk of relapsing into drug use is comparable to the risk of relapsing into other well-known chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.
During drug addiction treatment, patients gain a better understanding of the gravity of their condition and the many repercussions of their habit. They also learn more about who they are and how to deal with the challenges of living a clean and sober life in the real world, as well as what it will take to maintain their recovery from addiction. This information will not be lost even if there is a relapse. A person’s ability to get clean and put what they’ve learned in addiction treatment to use is not compromised by a previous episode of using again.
There is No Difference Between the Various Treatments for Drug Addiction
Discuss your options with a qualified addictions counselor who can offer guidance on selecting an efficient rehabilitation facility. There is a wide variety of treatments available, such as outpatient and inpatient care. In addition, the duration of treatment is an essential factor. According to several studies, individuals with severe drug addictions require more time spent in treatment to have a greater chance of making a full and lasting recovery.
Treatment Centers for Substance Abuse Are Businesses; They Are Not Particularly Concerned About Me
Patients will collaborate with the clinical team to develop an individualized treatment plan for themselves. During the detoxification phase of their treatment, the majority of patients who are addicted to drugs require pharmacological assistance. Some patients may require additional psychotherapy, and some patients may require assistance with life skills. You can also learn how to say this in rehabilitation, which is helpful if you have the impression that nobody cares about you.
Considering That There Are Recovery Fellowships, What is the Point of Going to Rehab?
The meetings and fellowships offered by organizations such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous are not effective for kicking addiction for everyone. Some addicts cannot begin their recovery until they have had sufficient time and distance from the routines and cues that led to their substance abuse. This is not a sign of a lack of strength.
While I’m in Treatment, I’ll Be Surrounded by People Who Sell and Use Drugs
When people get past their initial stage of denial, they realize that the disease of addiction affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and alters people’s moral codes as well as the behaviors they engage in. Everyone is treated on the same level in treatment and recovery from addiction, regardless of where they come from or what they have done in the past.
I’m Afraid That Going Through Treatment Will Strip Me of My Identity
This is a widespread misconception that stems from the addict’s anxiety regarding transitions. Their life may be disorganized and unmanageable, but it is what they are familiar with. The drugs have made them who they are, and this has the potential to contribute to their ‘personality.’ However, once people enter addiction rehabilitation and begin treatment and sober living, they have the opportunity to learn more about the person who they truly are underneath their drug use.
Rehabilitation and Detoxification Are the Same Things
Although detox is a necessary step in the early stages of the recovery process and is included in several treatment programs, it is not a suitable replacement for more extensive treatment.
The detoxification process is designed to wean the body off of its dependence on a substance to facilitate the body’s return to a state of neurochemical equilibrium. Detox helps manage withdrawal symptoms and ensures that patients are as safe and comfortable as they can be during the process, which enables them to put their full attention on longer-term recovery efforts. Rehab is strongly recommended for people who are struggling with substance use disorders because addiction is a complex disease that involves compulsive behaviors, emotional triggers, environmental concerns, and even genetics.
Individuals who have completed detoxification and are then participating in therapy as part of a rehabilitation program will be able to better learn about the underlying causes of their addiction. This will allow them to avoid triggers, better manage cravings, and change maladaptive behaviors that are associated with continued substance use.
Substance Abuse Can Be Overcome Through Rehabilitation
There is currently no cure for addiction, but it can be effectively managed. Addiction is a chronic illness. In the short term, detox and rehabilitation can help manage the discomfort of withdrawal symptoms; however, the process of recovery requires additional treatment that lasts for several weeks or months, followed by continued therapy and social support. This may include participation in alumni programs, meetings, and group therapy.
It is possible to experience spontaneous cravings for drugs or alcohol, and it is also possible to relapse even after completing a treatment program for addiction. People who struggle with addiction shouldn’t let any of this discourage them because addiction can be successfully managed over the long term with efforts that are consistent, diligent, and ongoing in the recovery process.
An Individual Should Only Have to Participate in a Rehabilitation Program Once in Their Lifetime
It is not unheard of for a person to require more than one stay in rehabilitation. Treatment programs for drug addiction are time-consuming because they require detoxification, therapy, participation in support groups, and other activities. Because the treatment process can be drawn out, some people find that they have to go to rehabilitation more than once before they can meet their personal and professional responsibilities.
Going to treatment at a rehabilitation center may be considered merely an aspect of maintenance for some people in recovery. There is a possibility that other people have relapsed and need to return to treatment to proceed with their journey toward sobriety.
A person’s participation in multiple treatment programs does not necessarily indicate that they are not making any headway in their recovery, regardless of the motivation behind the repeated treatment. As is the case with other chronic illnesses, continuing treatment may be required, and this includes both times when one is feeling better and times when one is experiencing a relapse.
At different points in their lives, people who are attempting to control a substance use disorder or addiction may be required to participate in more intensive rehabilitation or therapy. On the path to complete recovery, resuming participation in treatment is frequently an essential step that must be taken.
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