Drug Addictions and Substance Abuse - The Myths and Facts

Myth.the individual's ability to function in daily life and
Drug Addiction is a bad habit, the result of moralstrengthen the individual to better cope with the
weakness and over-indulgence.next temptation or craving. These improvements
Factreduce the social and economic costs of addiction.
Drug Addiction is a chronic, life-threateningMyth
condition, like hypertension, atherosclerosis andWe have reached the limits of what we can do
adult diabetes.to treat drug addiction.
Fact.Fact
Genetics and substance abuse - drug addiction hasThe more we learn about addiction, the more
roots in generic susceptibility, social circumstanceeffective substance abuse recovery programs
and personal behavior.become. Matching clients to the services they
Fact.most need, while supporting continuous and
Certain drugs are highly addictive, rapidly causingfocused engagement in treatment is imperative.
biochemical and structural changes in the brain.Today's treatment providers are better able to
Others can be used for longer periods of timedo this than ever before.
before they begin to cause inescapable cravingsTips on substance abuse treatment
and compulsive use.Substance abuse adds substantially to the nation's
Mythhealth care bill. Studies show that adequate and
If an addict has enough will power, he or she canaccessible treatment is the most effective
stop abusing alcohol and using drugs.method to improve the health of drug abusers
Fact.and relieve the burden of drug-related health care
Few people addicted to alcohol and other drugscosts.
can simply stop using them, no matter howSubstance Abuse and Health Care Costs.
strong their inner resolve. Most need one or moreAbout one-third of AIDS cases are related to
courses of structured substance abuse treatmentintravenous drug use, and 90 percent of pedantic
to reduce or end their dependence on alcohol andAIDS cases are related to maternal exposure to
other drugs.HIV.
Myth.Untreated alcoholics incur general health care costs
Many people relapse, so treatment obviously doesthat are at least 100 percent higher than those of
not work.the non-alcoholic. More than 5 percent (221,000)
Factof the 4 million women who give birth each year
Like virtually any other medical treatment,use illicit drugs during their pregnancy, with
addiction treatment cannot guarantee lifelongexpenditures ranging from $48,000 to $150,000
health. Relapse, often a part of the recoveryfor each delivery.
process, is always possible, and treatable Even if aSubstance abuse treatment reduces hospital
person never achieves perfect abstinence,admission rates by 38 percent. Hospital admissions
addiction treatment can reduce the number andfor drug overdose decreased by 58 percent
duration of relapses, minimize related problemsamong those treated.
such as crime and poor overall health, improve