There are plenty of myths floating around about addiction, some rooted in fact, and others just random suppositions that have been mistakenly believed as true. One of the biggest myths is that addiction can be overcome if the person truly wants it to be so. Now, this can be true if a person seeks professional help, but the myth comes about when people say – oh he could stop if he wants to’. The acts of abusing drugs for a long time change a person’s brain so that the intense desire to use is powerful and overrides everything else. When the compulsion becomes a part of the brain, it takes more than just willpower to change things. Conversely, having an addiction does not mean the person is doomed to a life of addiction until it eventually kills them. The changes that have been made in the brain through the course of the addiction can be treated and even reversed with the proper therapy, both mentally and physically.
Another crazy myth is that addicts will not seek treatment until they hit rock bottom, until something catastrophic and terrible happens to them such as a drunk driving accident or a marriage ending. This is not true, in fact, the earlier in the addiction that treatment is sought, the better the chances for a full recovery and a fulfilling, addiction free life ahead.
