Some time ago, we wrote a series of blogs focused on various myths about substance use disorders. We used the popular science show MythBusters as our model, and over the course of three blog entries, we considered some of the things you might hear people say—they might even say these things directly to you—about the nature of substance use disorders, the character of the people who suffer from them, how they can be overcome, and more.
Now, sometimes, the MythBusters would find themselves revisiting a topic they had considered before. Perhaps most famously, they had done an experiment that seemed to show that when confronted with rain and you do not have an umbrella, it is better to walk rather than run. Walking, according to the team’s original findings, resulted in a person getting less wet than if they ran.
Eventually, they took another look at this topic. They decided their methodology had been wrong the first time. A newly designed experiment proves that running was actually the right move when the rain is coming down and you are trying to get from point A to point B.
This sort of reevaluation is really important when it comes to science. When it comes to myths about substance use disorders, however, we stand by our original conclusions—all of the myths we considered are busted.
Let’s take a look back. (You can find the original entries here, here, and here.)
BUSTED: An individual who is experiencing success must not be addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Our first entry in the series considered the myth above. We wrote, in part:
While the impacts of a substance use disorder tend to catch up with most everyone eventually, the fact is it is possible to be accomplishing professional goals, enjoying family life, and more—even as things are starting to go awry to one degree or another. In fact, many people convince themselves that drugs or alcohol are actually fueling their success…In the end, however, the substance use disorder is going to upend the person’s life, so it is far preferable that they are honest with themselves in the early days of a substance use disorder so that they can minimize the negative impacts on their physical and mental health, their professional and social lives, and their relationships.
BUSTED: Substance use disorder treatment is a “one and done” proposition.
In the second post in our series about myths, we wrote about the dangers of despair following a relapse. We wrote, in part:
In a perfect world, a person with a substance use disorder would go through the treatment process one time and be cured forever. Unfortunately, however, relapses are common and have a range of causes. But because of this myth, many people give up hope if they experience a relapse after going through treatment…[b]ut that is exactly the wrong reaction to a relapse. The right move is to return to treatment immediately. Substance use disorders are treatable, manageable chronic diseases—but they are not curable. And that means relapse is always a risk…The key thing to remember is that sobriety is always preferable to the alternative. Getting back into treatment following a relapse ensures that you can get sober again.
BUSTED: Living a sober life means living a boring life.
In the final entry in our original series, we considered whether sobriety meant being condemned to never have fun again. Here’s a part of what we wrote:
Some people come to the conclusion that drinking or using drugs is the quickest—or even the only—route to making life more fun…[b]ut the truth is that life offers a range of pleasures and exciting experiences that have nothing to do with drugs or alcohol…Also, it is no small thing that when you experience life soberly, you can make and maintain more good memories. Drugs and alcohol often steal a person’s memory. You can’t remember what you did last night, or last week, or last month, because the substances are clouding your mind. When you are sober, you can have fun—and look back fondly on that fun later.
This is No Myth: We’re Among the Very Best at What We Do
The Aviary Recovery Center, which is located near St. Louis, Missouri, is consistently included on Newsweek’s list of the top substance use disorder treatment centers in America. We are proud of the recognition, of course, but we also see it as a reminder of our responsibility to each and every person we treat. Whether you participate in residential care or our outpatient program, and whether you need treatment solely for a substance use disorder or also for a co-occurring mental health disorder, we are ready and able to help.
Key to our approach is a commitment to individualized treatment. We understand that each individual has unique needs, and that means we never really on cookie cutter solutions. Instead, we bring to bear our experience, expertise, and empathy as we pursue evidence-based treatment practices employed to address your specific situation.
When you are ready to make a change in your life, we can help. You can be confident that our commitment to you is no myth.
