Some people think substance misuse is about a lack of willpower — that someone with a drug or alcohol problem simply doesn’t want to get better and could easily quit if they really tried. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Substance misuse is far more complex and less forgiving than many people realize.
Things You Should Know About Substance Misuse
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01. Does your brain make it harder to quit?
Anyone who says ending a substance use disorder is easy is very mistaken. Long-term use of drugs or alcohol changes how the brain communicates with the body. Eventually, the brain begins to convince the body that it needs the substance to continue or produce pleasure or happiness — making it extremely difficult to quit through willpower alone.
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02. Are substance use disorders an illness, or a life sentence?
Recovery is always possible. Substance use disorders can be treated through various forms of therapy including counseling, medication, mindfulness, and exercise.
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03. Do you have to wait until you hit rock bottom to get help?
There is no magic formula for treating a substance use disorder, but the earlier someone can begin the recovery process the better. Substance use disorders only grow stronger with time.
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04. Does the risk of developing a substance use disorder of alcohol or drugs vary from person to person?
Risk factors such as genetics, mental and physical health, and your environment as a child and in adulthood can increase your vulnerability to misuse and your ability to overcome it.
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05. Recovery is a journey, not a destination. Recovery is a lifelong process that has its challenges.
Relapsing is part of the recovery process and doesn’t mean you failed. It means you may need to adjust your approach to treatment, the people you surround yourself with, or even your physical environment. If a relapse occurs, the best thing you can do is stay positive and move forward, taking steps to get back to a healthy place.
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06. Are the terms “addict,” “addiction,” “alcoholic,” and “alcoholism” falling out of favor?
It has taken centuries of study to understand the complexities of substance misuse. As a result, the conversations and classifications around substance misuse continue to evolve. People who have issues with addiction are now widely referred to as having a substance use disorder, as opposed to being considered an “addict” or “alcoholic” or having issues with “alcoholism” — terms that have been discredited by many researchers and clinicians alike.