Myths About Drug And Alcohol Abuse

Drug and alcohol abuse can harm you and your family or friends. It can impede your career progression, interfere with personal responsibilities, and ruin your relationships. Understanding myths about drug and alcohol abuse will enable you to recognize the truth among fiction and find professional treatment if the need arises. But what are the most common myths about drug and alcohol abuse?

Myths About Drug and Alcohol Abuse

There are several myths that continue to be perpetuated about drug and alcohol abuse. Understanding whether something is fact or fiction can help you recognize when there is a legitimate problem and when you need to get help. 

Myth #1: Some People Don’t Get Addicted

Some of the most popular myths about drug and alcohol abuse are that certain people never struggle with addiction because they have superior genes or better “tolerance.” 

This is simply not true. In fact, the opposite is true; some people are genetically predisposed to addiction, which means they are more likely to develop an addiction, even if they only use drugs or alcohol for a short amount of time. 

Myth #2: You Can Quit Drugs and Alcohol Cold Turkey

While you can, in theory, quit cold turkey, it is inadvisable. The reason for this is that drugs and alcohol can change your brain chemistry, resulting in serious withdrawal symptoms that, for many, can risk health complications or death. Alcoholism, for example, has a high risk of medical complications or death during withdrawal, and if you try to quit cold turkey, you may be unprepared to handle those complications at home. But with the help of a treatment center, you can undergo a safe detox process with 24-hour supervision from medical professionals. 

Myth #3: To Get Help for Drug and Alcohol Abuse, You Need to Move Into a Facility

It is a common misconception that you need to move out of your home and into a rehab center in order to get help. There are plenty of outpatient programs that offer comparable results to residential programs, and you can attend these programs while living at home. 

For example, a partial hospitalization program typically lasts two weeks. During that time, you go to the treatment center each day on a full time schedule, the same as you would go to work for a full-time job. Lunch is usually provided for you, but you are responsible for breakfast and dinner. Once your day is over, you can return home. 

Myth #4: Addiction Treatment is Too Expensive

One of the top concerns about addiction treatment is the cost. However, there are two factors that can make treatment more affordable:

Insurance

The first is your insurance. If you have health insurance, your healthcare provider is legally required to cover some of the costs of treatment for mental health needs, including addiction.

Level of Care

The second is the level of care you receive. With flexible outpatient programs like a partial hospitalization program or intensive outpatient program, you will find that the cost of addiction treatment is often less than that of a full-time residential program. 

Get Help Today with Ritual Recovery

If you are ready to get help for addiction, Ritual Recovery is here for you. We provide substance abuse treatment programs of varying lengths, including a partial hospitalization program and intensive outpatient program.  Our programs heavily emphasize group therapy, individual therapy, and adventure therapy. 

When you reach out to our team, we will help you determine which level of care is right for you based on your initial evaluation. We will also ensure that you are comfortable with your team and your schedule, working with you to offer the services you need most. 

Overall, there are several myths about drug and alcohol abuse that continue to circulate, involving the risks of drugs and alcohol, the cost of care, and more. Knowing fact from fiction can empower you to make the right decision about getting quality addiction treatment today.

Call the team at Ritual Recovery today to learn more about our programs.