Breaking the Stigma: 7 Common Myths About Substance Abuse, Debunked

Millions of Americans suffer from substance use disorder (SUD), placing them at risk of severe complications and consequences that can involve every aspect of their lives. Treatment can absolutely help, but many people living with SUD don’t seek care, in part due to the stigma surrounding their condition.

At Revival Infusion Madison, Sarah Wilczewski, CRNA, APNP, helps women and men overcome substance abuse and the addictive patterns that underlie it with low-dose ketamine infusions based on each person’s unique needs. In this post, learn about six common myths and misconceptions that could be keeping you from seeking the treatment you need to improve your health and your life.

1. Myth: Substance abuse is a choice

Fact: No one chooses to become addicted, and no one chooses to experience the life-destroying consequences of addiction. Instead, the pathway to addiction typically involves a number of factors, like home environment, abusive relationships, mental health issues, and even your genetics. 

Referring to substance use and abuse as a choice demeans and diminishes the struggles of the person facing it on a daily basis, leading to feelings of guilt and failure that can interfere with a person’s ability to get the treatment they need to get better.

2. Myth: Only certain “types” of people get addicted

Fact: Addiction doesn’t discriminate. It affects people of all ages, genders, races, professions, and socioeconomic statuses. 

Addiction stereotypes prevent us from appreciating the vast scope of substance abuse and its life-altering effects. Adhering to false ideas makes it difficult or even impossible to see addiction as a human problem that requires real, actionable, medical treatment and a compassionate, sympathetic approach.

3. Myth: If someone relapses, they can’t be helped

Fact: Relapse is not a sign of failure. In fact, it’s a common part of addiction recovery for many people. Addiction affects people in different ways, and a treatment that works for one person may not be effective for another. 

Viewing relapse as failure can keep people from seeking ongoing treatment that can help them overcome SUD and achieve the goal of a healthier, happier life.

4. Myth: You can beat addiction: All it takes is willpower

Fact: Addiction isn’t about willpower. Substance abuse alters your brain's neural pathways, specifically the pathways involved in reward and self-control. As a result, your body develops a physical need for drugs, a need that can be impossible to overcome without medical intervention. 

5. Myth: It’s easy to pick out a person with substance use disorder

Fact: Substance abuse doesn’t involve a “type.” Plenty of people with jobs, families, and strong connections suffer from substance use disorder, too. The concept that addiction is visibly identifiable can result in delays in seeking treatment, especially in the early stages of addiction.

6. Myth: Addiction is a moral failing

Fact: Substance abuse has nothing to do with morals, religion, spirituality, belief systems, or “strong character.” It’s a physiological process that involves both psychological and physical changes, requiring a medical solution to overcome. Conflating substance abuse with “low morals” instills feelings of guilt and low self-esteem that can prevent someone from seeking the treatment they need.

7. Myth: If traditional treatments don’t help, there’s nothing you can do to get better

Fact: Traditional treatments like psychotherapy and medication can help many people overcome substance abuse and lead healthy lives long-term. But while they’re effective for some people, they don’t provide long-term, meaningful relief for others.

Ketamine infusion therapy offers an alternative — and real hope — for people who don’t find the help they’re seeking from traditional therapeutic options. Infusions are dosed on an individual basis to help patients break the cycle of addiction and achieve the goal of leading a substance-free life.

If you’re suffering from substance abuse, ketamine infusion might be the solution you’ve been looking for. To learn more, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Revival Infusion Madison in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, today.