10 Myths About Drug Addiction That People Need to Stop Believing

He formerly worked as a school counselor in an elementary school before transitioning to a clinical setting. He is a faculty member at Middle Tennessee State University for the professional counseling program supervising practicum and teaching courses, such as theories and addictions. He is pursuing a PhD in Clinical Counseling at Trevecca Nazarene University. He is trained in Brainspotting Phase I and II and Gottman Level I. Additionally, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ he is a nationally certified counselor (NCC) and certified sex addiction therapist (CSAT) candidate. Turning Point is now delivering COPE ‘Concurrent treatment of PTSD and substance use disorders using Prolonged Exposure’ for women in Melbourne.

Link Between Trauma and Substance Use

These myths lead to misunderstanding and stigma, often clouding our collective perception and creating barriers for those in need of help. They often immobilize those who are already unable to assist a loved one in overcoming addiction-related obstacles or traumatic situations. Caring for, loving, and wanting the best for the person in your life who is hurting is perfectly acceptable. Whether you are seeking care for yourself or a loved one, call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation. If you’re struggling with drug addiction or know someone who is, it’s time to stop believing these myths.

Addiction as a Chronic Illness

• Trauma, whether physical or emotional, can lead to intense feelings of fear, helplessness, and shock.
• Approximately 9.2 million adults in the United States have both a mental health condition and a substance use disorder, referred to as co-occurring disorders or dual diagnoses.
• Steve Carleton, LCSW, CAS, adds that managing withdrawal effectively is critical to achieving long-term recovery.
• Even seemingly insignificant traumatic experiences can have a significant impact on a person’s behavior and mental health.
• The belief that trauma is unavoidable can perpetuate a sense of helplessness and resignation, which may actually erode our resilience and undermine our efforts to prevent or mitigate the impact of fear.

Plenty of people are “functional addicts,” meaning they still go to work and handle basic responsibilities. The problem is that they often need their substance of choice to help them perform these functions. There are lots of factors that go into someone being an addict versus someone who myths about addiction occasionally uses a specific substance recreationally.

Myths About Women and Addiction

One common neuromyth is the belief that humans only use 10 percent of their brains. This notion has been proven false by neuroscientists who demonstrate that the brain has a “default mode” network that remains active, indicating that it operates at Halfway house full capacity even when at rest 4. In 1984, the FDA approved naltrexone, now also in a long-acting injectable form, for OUD and AUD, reinforcing the idea addictions are related. While progress has been slower against cocaine and methamphetamine, clinicians have learned to deemphasize withdrawal distress and focus on dopamine and pathological attraction. The cocaine epidemic allowed psychiatry to understand behavioral addictions such as gambling, supporting diagnostic and treatment development. Instead, relapse is so common in addictions that many experts have considered adding relapse to the diagnostic criteria.

• The denizens of the Hell Realm are trapped in states of unbearable rage and anxiety.
• Some people develop misconceptions regarding PTSD, which creates a stigma within the mental health community that could prevent people from seeking the help they need to improve their health.
• One common myth is that overcoming addiction is solely a matter of willpower or a decision to stop using drugs or alcohol.

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