10 Myths About Addiction That People Still Believe Are True

“This is your brain on drugs”.

In the 80’s, this slogan taught millions of Americans to equate drug use with ‘frying’ your brain. This is one of the most damaging addiction myths in history, and it still exists today.

It’s not the only one.

In this article, we debunk 10 more myths about addiction that many people still believe.

The Most Common Myths About Addiction

Read on to change the way you think about addiction, how it works and how to recover from it.

1. Addiction Is Genetic

Contrary to popular belief, addiction is not genetic.

It is not the result of genes that have been inherited, but a series of habitual behaviors over time. Instead, environment, circumstances and social situations are much more significant in influencing addiction.

2. You Have to ‘Hit Rock Bottom’ Before Recovery

This one is particularly dangerous.

People who suffer from addiction use this belief to stay in denial. It becomes a tool to convince themselves that addiction isn’t bad enough to warrant getting help.

People around them also often think that they should let someone hit a low point before stepping in. This is wrong for a number of reasons.

‘Rock bottom’ looks different for everyone, and there is no use in letting someone become absolutely desperate for help before reaching out. It’s best to help out as early as possible and prevent any further damage.

3. If You Have a Stable Career and Family Life, You Don’t Have an Addiction

When we think of people who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, we usually picture disheveled people with terrible skin and hair. More often than not, we imagine them to be homeless, too.

This is a common misconception.

Plenty of people with drug addictions are incredibly skilled at keeping their vices and associated behavior secret. In many cases, even the people closest to them have no idea what’s going on until the point of crisis.

4. It’s All About Willpower

Unfortunately, many people still believe that addiction is about choice. Those who believe this see it as a moral issue. They look at people with addictions and ask ‘why don’t they just quit?’

It’s not as easy as that.

What addicts feel isn’t akin to a craving you might have for a certain food. They can’t simply say ‘no’. They feel compelled by powers beyond their control.

This is because addiction hijacks the brain, changing its chemistry. The entire structure and function of the brain is altered. That’s why viewing it as a choice or something to be punished for won’t help.

In order to combat addiction, the best route to take is dedicated treatment at a detox facility.

5. Addictions to Prescription Drugs and Legal Drugs Aren’t the Same

America’s opioid crisis has seen millions of people become addicted to prescription drugs.

This type of addiction is generally seen as less serious, but the truth is that it’s just as damaging.

Prescription drugs are safe when they’re taken in the correct dosages, but when people become addicted to them, they can tear their lives apart. These people should seek treatment in the same way that any other drug addict should.

6. Addiction Can Be Cured by a Detox

A detox alone is not enough to treat an addiction.

This a short period of time after ending substance abuse, in which the body metabolizes any substances that are still remaining in the body and flushes them out of its system.

A detox is an important initial step on the road to recovery. However, it’s only part of what should be a much more extensive treatment plan. This is because it only treats the immediate effects of coming off drugs or alcohol, and doesn’t treat the root cause of the addiction.

7. Addiction Is for Life

Addiction isn’t a dark cloud that has to loom over you for the rest of your life.

It’s true that even after recovery, many people still have to take measures to manage their addictions daily. However, addiction isn’t the same for everyone, and neither is recovery.

Everything exists on a spectrum. Some people will struggle with addiction for years or even decades, while others may be able to put substance abuse behind them after a short period of time.

8. Marijuana Is a ‘Gateway Drug’

For decades, people have believed that marijuana use leads to other, more serious drugs. This is part of the reason why it has carried such a huge stigma.

With the legalization of marijuana in some states and widespread medical use of cannabis, that stigma is starting to fade, but this belief still exists. However, it’s simply not true.

Plenty of people who use marijuana never go on to try any other drugs, let alone become addicted to them.

In fact, research shows that nicotine and alcohol precede harder drug use much more than marijuana does.

9. If You Relapse, Your Treatment Hasn’t Worked

Recovering from drug or alcohol addiction can be a long and arduous process. For many people, it takes years.

This may involve a stint, or even several, in a rehab facility.

During this process, many addicts find themselves relapsing. This is understandably disappointing and frustrating. However, it doesn’t mean that all of the previous effort and treatment has gone to waste.

This is one of the main myths about recovery.

Relapse is normal. Viewing it as a failure can cause a person to feel shame, guilt, and hopelessness, which can feed into further substance abuse.

If a relapse occurs, you can bounce back and continue with your recovery.

10. You Need Religion to Beat Addiction

Many people find religion on their way to getting sober.

While this can be helpful, you don’t need to believe in God or subscribe to any religion in order to recover from addiction. Religion generally offers a supportive community, and that can be found in other places, too.

Other Addictions

One of the most obvious myths about addiction is that it’s just about drugs and alcohol.

There are plenty of other things that people can become addicted to. Addictions to gambling, sex, and pornography are fairly common. There are also lots of other addictions, some of which you may find surprising.

To learn more, see our post on weird addictions.

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