It is hard to make good decisions when you only have bad information. And when the decision in question is how best to address a substance use disorder, it is essential that you have accurate information at your disposal. After all, a substance use disorder can upend in your life in devastating ways, so you simply cannot let bad advice lead to bad outcomes.
This is the second entry in a series of blog posts intended to make sure you have information you can trust about substance use disorders and recovery. (You can read the first blog in the series here.)
Incorrect Info: A person who is experiencing success must not be struggling with drugs or alcohol.
Maybe it seems like everything in your life is going well. You are respected at work, loved at home, and have a strong circle of friends. Your finances are in order, your kids are doing well in school, and your advice is valued by others. All seems right in the world.
Given all those good things, you might feel as though your drug or alcohol use is no big deal. In fact, it might seem like your substance use is empowering your success—or at least helping you relax from the various stresses of daily life. If the successes keep coming, you must not have a problem, right?
Unfortunately, a substance use disorder does not care if you experience success in the short term—and it will almost certainly upend that success in the long term. That is because drugs and alcohol chip away at your physical and mental health. And as that happens, it gets harder—often impossible—to keep things on track in all the various areas of your life.
Given that reality, it is far better to get help for a substance use disorder sooner rather than later. Doing so can minimize the damage you do to your body and brain as well as to other people and in other parts of your life.
Incorrect Info: Treatment is not necessary until someone has hit ‘rock bottom.’
This substance use disorder myth is like the mirror image of the topic above. Some people know they have a problem with drugs or alcohol, and they know that things are starting to fall apart in their lives, but they are not convinced they need to get themselves into treatment.
That might be because they have decided they do not really need help until they hit “rock bottom.” The problem is that the notion of rock bottom is malleable—that is, folks can redefine it as they go along.
For example, imagine that you are aware that you are probably drinking more than you should. You might say to yourself that you will seek out help if you ever find yourself heading to a bar and drinking all alone. But then that happens, so you shift your definition of rock bottom. You decide you will get help if you ever get behind the wheel of a car after having too much to drink. But then that happens, and you shift again. You decide that you will pursue treatment if you ever get picked up for drunk driving. But then…
Well, you can see where that is headed. Redefining “rock bottom” over and over puts you at ongoing risk of experiencing the negative impacts of substance use. And in the example we have used above, your redefinition of rock bottom could lead to serious injury or death—for you or for someone else.
It would be far better to get the help you need as soon as you recognize that you may be developing a problem around drugs or alcohol. Far better for you—and potentially far better for those around you, too.
There is More to Come
While it would be wonderful if we had managed to cover all possible misinformation about substance use disorders and recovery in the previous entry and in this post, there are more topics to cover. Our goal with this series of posts is to ensure you know where you can turn for solid information so that you can make informed decisions that can improve your life.
We Are Here to Help You Get Sober
The Farley Center provides personalized treatment for individuals struggling with substance use disorders. Our approach is built around a commitment to addressing your physical, emotional, and psychological needs. Located in Williamsburg, Virginia, The Farley Center offers treatment in a variety of formats, including inpatient, outpatient, and virtual programs. Our work is grounded in evidence, experience, expertise, and empathy, and we are dedicated to helping you get sober and giving you the tools and resources you need to stay sober.
If you are ready to build a sober life, we are ready to help you establish a firm foundation for a future free of drugs or alcohol.
