subject: Some Myths About Drug Addiction And Rehab [print this page] Addiction can be defined as the psychological and compulsive need for and use of habit forming substances that are harmful for health when consumed for over long periods. These substances may include alcohol, nicotine, cocaine or heroin. The person is said to be addicted to these drugs when he or she have psychological compulsions or urge to consume these drugs in a repetitive manner and is characterized by the tolerance to these drugs. Recovery on the other hand can be defined as the act of returning to normal or healthy state that the addict used to be previously before getting addicted to these drugs.
Recovery and addiction treatment can be defined as the returning to and maintaining a life free from compulsions or habit of addiction. However, there are certain myths that surround the aspects related with addiction and recovery and these are:
1. Addicts are bad people: Drug or alcohol addiction is termed as a disease of mind and body. Different drugs have different mechanisms that change the way of brain functioning. However, the result is that brain is similar irrespective of which drug the person is using. All of these changes create situations due to which the addicted person is forced to crave for the drug which ultimately becomes a regular habit of the drug addict on a long run. Thus, addiction is not at all related with moral activities or character flaw of the addicted person. It is just under certain situations due to which the person becomes a drug addict.
2. Addicts can quit if they really wants: The other myth that is doing rounds is that addicts have the ability to quit drugs if they really wants. But it is not a reality as willpower hasnt got anything to do with the addiction. The drug afflicts on that part of brain called the mesolimbic dopamine system which is not under the control of conscious mind. Therefore, it is very difficult for the addicts to maintain temperance and no amount of will power can make the addict to quit. The cravings for the drugs are more powerful and stronger than his/her willpower.
3. Addicts intentionally choose to become addicted to drug and alcohol: People at first do take the drugs and alcohol occasionally and it is their voluntary decision. But as the days pass by this voluntary habit becomes addiction. This addiction then increases and finally the concerned person becomes a compulsive user, dependent and addicted to that drug or alcohol without his/her real intention. In the real sense, the addiction becomes an involuntary action.
These are the three important myths that are usually told about drug and alcohol addiction.
