THE TOP 10 ADDICTION MYTHS -- AND MYTH BUSTERS

Think you know about addiction? Then these common myths may sound familiar:

Myth 1: Drug addiction is voluntary behavior.

You start out occasionally using alcohol or other drugs, and that is
a voluntary decision. But as times passes, something happens, and you
become a compulsive drug user. Why? Because over time, continued use
of addictive drugs changes your brain - in dramatic, toxic ways at
times, more subtly at others, but virtually always in ways that
result in compulsive and even uncontrollable drug use.

Myth 2: Drug addiction is a character flaw.

Drug addiction is a brain disease. Every type of drug - from alcohol
to heroin - has its own mechanism for changing how the brain
functions. But regardless of the addiction, the effects on the brain
are similar, ranging from changes in the molecules and cells that
make up the brain to mood and memory processes - even on motor skills
such as walking and talking. The drug becomes the single most
powerful motivator in your life.

Myth 3: You can't force someone into treatment.

Treatment does not have to be voluntary. Those coerced into treatment
by the legal system can be just as successful as those who enter
treatment voluntarily. Sometimes they do better, as they are more
likely to remain in treatment longer and to complete the program. In
1999, more than half of adolescents admitted into treatment were
directed to do so by the criminal justice system.

Myth 4: Treatment for drug addiction should be a one-shot deal.

Like many other illnesses, drug addiction typically is a chronic
disorder. Some people can quit drug use "cold turkey," or they can
stop after receiving treatment just one time at a rehabilitation
facility. But most people who abuse drugs require longer-term
treatment and, in many instances, repeated treatments.

Myth 5: We should strive to find a "magic bullet" to treat all forms
of drug abuse.

There is no "one size fits all" form of drug treatment, much less a
magic bullet that suddenly will cure addiction. Different people have
different drug abuse-related problems. And they respond very
differently to similar forms of treatment, even when they're abusing
the same drug. As a result, drug addicts need an array of treatments
and services tailored to address their unique needs. Finding an
approach that is personally effective can mean trying out several
different doctors or treatment centers before a "match" is found
between patient and program.

Myth 6: People don't need treatment. They can stop using drugs if
they really want to.

It is extremely hard for people addicted to drugs to achieve and
maintain long-term abstinence. Research shows that when long-term
drug use actually changes a person's brain function, it causes them
to crave the drug even more, making it increasingly difficult to quit
without effective treatment. Intervening and stopping substance abuse
early is important, as children become addicted to drugs much faster
than adults and risk greater physical, mental and psychological harm.

Myth 7: Treatment just doesn't work.

Studies show drug treatment reduces drug use by 40 percent to 60
percent and can significantly decrease criminal activity during and
after treatment. There is also evidence that drug addiction treatment
reduces the risk of infectious disease, hepatitis C and HIV infection
- - intravenous-drug users who enter and stay in treatment are up to
six times less likely to become infected with HIV - and improves the
prospects for getting and keeping a job up to 40 percent.

Myth 8: No one voluntarily seeks treatment until they hit rock bottom.

There are many things that can motivate a person to enter and
complete treatment before that happens. Pressure from family members
and employers, as well as personal recognition that they have a
problem, can be powerful motivators. For teens, parents and school
administrators are often driving forces in getting them into
treatment before situations become dire.

Myth 9: People can successfully finish drug abuse treatment in a
couple of weeks if they're truly motivated.

For treatment to have an effect, research indicates a minimum of 90
days of treatment for outpatient drug-free programs, and 21 days for
short-term inpatient programs. Follow-up supervision and support are
essential. In all recovery programs, the best predictor of success is
the length of treatment. Patients who are treated for at least a year
are more than twice as likely to remain drug-free, and a recent study
showed adolescents who met or exceeded the minimum treatment time
were over one and a half times more likely to stay away from drugs and alcohol.

Myth 10: People who continue to abuse drugs after treatment are hopeless.

Completing a treatment program is merely the first step in the
struggle for recovery that can last a lifetime. Drug addiction is a
chronic disorder; occasional relapses do not mean failure.
Psychological stress from work or family problems, social cues (like
meeting someone from the drug-using past) or the environment
(encountering streets, objects or even smells associated with drug
use) can easily trigger a relapse. Addicts are most vulnerable to
drug use during the few months immediately following their release
from treatment. Recovery is a long process and frequently requires
multiple treatment attempts before complete and consistent sobriety
can be achieved.

Sources: National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institute of
Health; Dr. Alan I. Leshner, former director of the National
Institute on Drug Abuse; "The Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment:
A Research-Based Guide" (October 1999); The Partnership for a Drug-Free America