Common Misconcopetions About Addictions

Addiction is one of the most misunderstood diseases in society. It is not only understood by those who don't have it but also by those who have a family member suffering from it and even those who have the disease itself. Here are some of the common misconceptions people have.

1. A person should just be able to stop by self will: This is a common misconception. Addiction is a disease and any person suffering from it is unable to use their self-will to stop. In fact, one of the main reasons they can't stop is because they have no control over their self-will - its literally a case of self-will run riot. The disease is both a physical and mental obsession. For example, an alcoholic takes a drink. The drink sets off, for lack of a better word, an allergy whereby the person cannot stop drinking unless he passes out, runs out of booze, etc. If that were the only part of the disease then simply not drinking would solve the issue. However, the biggest part of the disease is a mental obsession with alcohol. The alcoholic is using alcohol to solve his problems and is so reliant on it mentally that he is in denial of the damage it is doing.
2. The only person effected by my addiction is me: Often the person drinking/drugging or acting out feels the disease is only hurting them. This is a misconception on their part. Addiction is called a family disease because it effects everyone involved with the addict. A minimum of seven people are effected by an addict. The people in the addict's life become as sick as the addict, sometimes even sicker as, unlike the addict, they are not relieving stress through self-medication. 
3. People in 12 Step Programs are Recovering: A common misconception by people involved in a 12 Step program is that they are always in the process of recovery but never recovered. This misconception stems from the fact that there is no cure for addiction but only the ability to put the disease into remission. However, once the disease is put into remission the person is recovered. All 12 Step programs were born out of Alcoholics Anonymous. The AA Big Book is the textbook of the 12 Steps and early on states, "we are a group of people who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless condition of mind and body." The first step is: We admitted we were powerless over [our addiction] - that our lives had become unmanageable.  Notice the step is past tense - we were powerless. Once I complete the 12 Steps I am no longer powerless over alcohol. I have lost the obsession and no longer drink. The Big Book states that recovery results from a spiritual awakening and defines a spiritual awakening as, "a personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from [our addiction]."
4. Detox is treatment: A detox centre is not a treatment centre. Detox is merely the process whereby the person suffering from the addiction gets rid of the substance from their body. It can be lethal in some cases (i.e. - people detoxing from alcohol or benzodiazepams can die in the detox process) and/or terribly painful. However, once the person stops their substance and is detoxed they still have to deal with the mental aspect of the disease. Substance abuse is symptom of a bigger problem. An addict doesn't have an using or drinking problem but a thinking problem. One needs to treat the disease not just detox from it.
5. Treatment will cure me: Going to treatment for an addiction is a great thing to do but it will not cure you. If a treatment centre claims that then run away as quick as you can. A treatment centre provides you the tools to take into the world to help you become recovered. I like to say recovery is like building a house - treatment is where you lay the foundation but once you leave it is up to you to build the rest of it.
6. Relapse is taking that first drink, drug, etc.: In the majority of cases relapse is a process. One is in relapse long before he takes that first drink or drug. The relapse begins once one returns to his old thinking and behaviours. As a member of a 12 Step Fellowship I always ask people who return after a relapse what happened. Invariably the answer is the same: stopped going to meetings, stopped surrounding oneself with fellow people in recvoery; stopped praying to a Higher Power of one's own understanding.
7. I don't have to be abstinent: Some addicts think their only problem is their main drug of choice and feel they can safely use other mind-altering substances. As stated before an addict has a thinking disease so self-medicating using a different substance just causes more issues. There are dangers of cross-addiction (becoming addicted to the new substance) or by taking a different substance one's inhibitions go down and he returns to his drug of choice.
8. It's okay to skip steps: Those in a 12 Step program must follow the steps in the order they were written in. The steps weren't written in a haphazard fashion. They are in order for a reason. Many people will either skip steps or do them out of order. Some get into recovery and immediately want to start making amends (jumping from Step 1 to Step 9). This can be dangerous as not everyone may accept your amends. If this occurs a person who is new to recovery, still being vulnerable, could relapse. Another common step skip is going from Step 1 to Step 12 - helping others. How can one help an other addict if they haven't got any program to help the person with. This can be dangerous to both parties - the helper and helpee.

These are just a few of many misconceptions in recovery. Addiction is a life and death disease and must not be taken lightly.
Dave the Dude

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