Smashing the Stigma: 5 Surprising Facts About Addiction

If you or someone you know is struggling with a substance abuse problem, it is never too late to seek help. Addiction affects a staggering number of Americans every year, so it’s easy to feel like substance dependency is all around you. Despite the extensive nature of addiction, there are many stigmas and misconceptions about the disease, from the way it affects your brain to which substances are addictive.

It may be time to play a part in widespread health education about this issue and learn more about substance dependence. After all, you never know when information about addiction could significantly help someone close to you. 

Your genes play a part.

Along with your height, hip width, or your hatred for the taste of cilantro, addiction can be passed down from your parents, grandparents, and so on until it reaches you. However, the popular term “addiction gene” is not an accurate depiction of this genetic phenomenon. Multiple genetic factors play a part in addiction, including some that control how you respond to your lifestyle as a whole. Stress levels, social interaction, and many other personality traits can affect your vulnerability to addiction. Understanding genetics and inherited addictions can be very helpful, as it increases the likelihood of proper treatment that zeroes in on the root cause. Although your genes may contribute to substance abuse issues, your relatives’ histories do not define you.

Substance abuse changes your brain. 

Drugs and alcohol give you a shot of dopamine – a chemical messenger that triggers the reward center in your brain – every time you use them. Starting this chemical boost in artificial ways makes it harder for your brain’s reward system to receive pleasure in natural ways. After long-term substance abuse, your brain’s desperation grows along with a tolerance to the drug or alcohol, leading to decreased self-control. As your brain changes with addiction, spotting the light at the end of the tunnel can feel like an impossible feat. However, you and your brain are always stronger than you think, meaning that recovery is always possible. 

Yes, alcohol counts

While alcohol is not usually assumed to be a harmful substance, too much of a good thing can have dire consequences on a person’s life. Alcohol is widely known as the most highly abused substance because of its legal status and easy accessibility. Alcohol addiction can be challenging to identify and manage, given the widespread acceptance of wining-and-dining. In some cases, peer pressure may draw its might sword and reward the substance use disorder sufferer for their addictive behaviors. While alcohol is okay in moderation, your feelings are the most crucial element of your relationship with any substance. Taking stock of your dynamic with alcohol is never a bad idea--even when it appears that there isn’t a problem. 

Early intervention is critical. 

Though every addiction recovery process is different, it is not always necessary to wait for an addict to reach rock bottom before offering assistance. Just like any habit, breaking addictive behavior is a process. Though you may think it is best to wait till someone has lost everything to their addiction to step in, it can be easier to recover when an individual still has the structure of their everyday life to incentivize recovery. 

“Legal” doesn’t always mean healthy. 

It may be surprising to find out that legal prescription drugs have a significantly higher death toll than their illegal counterparts. While headlines about crack or meth are more likely to draw you in, prescription drugs are silent killers. It is relatively common to encounter prescription opioid painkillers, which leads to unintentional dependency. While it is always important to listen to a medical professional and never stop your prescription medication without a doctor’s endorsement, it is vital to step back and realize that these pills can be just as addictive as heroin or cocaine. 

Before you go 

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, it is essential to remember that you are never alone. Despite the smog of harmful stereotypes clouding onlooker’s perceptions, don’t let stigma stand in the way of seeking help for yourself or a loved one.