There is no denying that drug addiction is a complicated topic—every addict struggles with it differently and has friends and family who accept it differently. In some cases, they may not be accepting of the situation at all, or even outright dismiss it as a sign of weakness from the victim.
There are many easy misconceptions that can be made about alcohol and drug addiction; that the victim simply needs to quit, or they aren’t trying hard enough. But the truth is that such addictions are much more difficult to face than many realize.
It may be easy to dismiss drug and alcohol addiction as the victim not trying hard enough to stop, but there are a number of points to consider about addiction and how it affects the addict in question.
Addicts Need Support
Drug and alcohol addictions are not easy problems for many to overcome and simply aren’t able to be fixed overnight. As of 2013, it has been estimated that over 24.6 million Americans have used illicit drugs. Because of this, numerous therapy and treatment programs exist worldwide.
Alcohol addictions, in particular, are considered to be a family issue—as not only is the addict a suffering party, but close family members who deal with the problem directly can experience abuse, guilt, and shame. At the same time, an addict may need their family in order to cope with and recover from an addiction.
Ignoring an addict and waiting for them to deal with their own problems can only make the problem worse, as their faith in themselves only grows weaker. Having pillars of support is an absolute must to make the necessary steps towards recovery.
There is No Proper Cure
As much as we wish to believe that an addiction can be cured, the truth is that there is no proper or complete cure for drug or alcohol addiction. No medication or therapy practice simply ends an addiction with the snap of fingers, and nothing cures addiction permanently.
The reason for this is addictions are a chronic illness; they can disappear and resurface over a person’s lifespan. This is why the potential for relapse is something addicts must remain mindful of. More importantly, it is also something that people watching from the outside need to understand in order to be able to help and work with addicts. Pushing an addict to be “cured” can only create more pressure and add unnecessary tension with a lack of patience towards their problems.
Addiction isn’t a Choice, But a Disease
One of the biggest problems with people who lack an understanding of drug and alcohol addiction is that they do not realize that addictions are not a choice, but a psychological disease. They may ask an addict to simply stop, but the act of doing proves to be much more difficult. Addiction is a compulsive mental illness that creates stress, frustration, and depression when certain “needs” are not met.
Having trouble overcoming an addiction is not just a lack of willpower, nor is suffering through relapse proof of failure. Just as with depression, bipolar disorder, or any other mental disease, addiction must be treated with patience and a willingness to persevere, even when there are downturns.
If you know a loved one who lacks an understanding of the struggles and treatment of a drug or alcohol addiction, consider reaching out to your local Treatment & Rehab centers in Tennessee. You may also consider looking into Discovery Place’s own Family Matters Workshop or 30 Day Residential Addiction Recovery Program in Burns, Tennessee. Call us for a free consultation at 1-800-725-0922.
