InSight

Abra la Puerta Para Mejorar Salud (para los pacientes)

Myth: Once an alcoholic or and addict, always an alcoholic or an addict.

With appropriate intervention and treatment people can recover from alcohol and/or drug dependence. Recovery is a lifelong process. In some recovery programs former alcoholics and addicts identify themselves among their peers as alcoholics and addicts, but most would be quick to note they are recovering alcoholics/addicts or alcoholics/addicts in recovery. There are many avenues to recovery: Formal treatment, attending AA or self help groups, participating in church fellowships, seeing a doctor, psychiatrist, or a counselor. Some alcoholics or addicts even undergo a spontaneous recovery when faced with a serious consequence of their alcohol or drug use.

Common MYTHS that Contribute to Stigma

Stigma surrounding alcohol and drug use, as well as treatment, can discourage people who need help from seeking or accepting it. Much of the stigma is brought about by misunderstanding and myths. Here are some of the misconceptions that tend to make the problem worse:

Marijuana is harmless.

Most alcoholics are middle aged men who are skid row bums.

Once an alcoholic or and addict, always an alcoholic or an addict.

It is normal to have memory loss when you drink everyone blacks out at some time or another.

Synthetic drugs like Ecstasy are pure.

Myth: Using prescription drugs like vicodin or xanax to get high is a legal or safe alternative to using street drugs like cocaine, marijuana or heroin.