Myths About Rehab

Whether this is your first time considering rehabilitation or you’ve tried other options unsuccessfully, it’s perfectly natural to fear the unknown.

It’s important to know fact from fiction when considering entering rehab.

You shouldn’t let cold feet hold you back from making a decision that could drastically change your life for the better.

Nearly 6 million people in 2011 made the decision to enter rehab. The more you know about treatment, the more confident you’ll feel as you take the next step into the rest of your life.

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Debunking The Lies About Treatment

Despite the fact that rehab is often glamorized or obsessively dissected in popular culture, a surprising number of people know very little about what actually goes on during addiction treatment. Let’s take a look at some common rumors:

Myth: Treatment Is for Celebrities

Based on what you’ve seen on TV, you might think that rehab belongs exclusively to former child actors or privileged reality stars. Movies like 28 Days show a Los Angeles-tinged version of the rehab experience, while celebrity gossip shows use rehab as the punchline to jokes about stars battling their addictions.

It’s enough negative attention to make anyone squeamish. Thankfully, treatment is just as accessible for the everyman, but without the public scrutiny of the rich and famous.

Myth: You Have To Hit Rock Bottom

On the other end of the spectrum, the other group of people who are commonly known for getting treatment are the ones who are really bad off. Homeless, desperately in debt, disowned by family—people who’ve drifted so far that treatment is their only option.

While there are certainly those who have “hit rock bottom” that go to rehab, even people who are “high-functioning” addicts have found great success through treatment. You don’t have to wait until you lose everything in order to make positive moves toward a better future.

Myth: Treatment Is Like Quitting Cold Turkey

The practitioners and nurses who work in treatment centers are trained to help you overcome your addiction in the most comfortable and efficient way possible. In cases of heavy abuse, a supervised drug detox can help wean people off drugs with minimal side effects. Prescription drugs such as these are often used to ease withdrawal:

  • Buprenorphine

    A mild opioid with limited abuse potential, which reduces withdrawal pains from opioid addiction.

  • Methadone

    Similar to buprenorphine in effects, but used for more serious opioid and heroin addictions.

  • Naltrexone

    Eases cravings and reduces effects of both alcohol and opioids.

  • Antidepressants

    Antidepressants are often prescribed for withdrawal-related depression.

Regardless of how the detoxification process works at a given treatment facility, it is always better to go through it under the guidance of a trained professional than trying to quit on your own.

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Myth: Treatment Is Unaffordable

Some treatment centers, especially inpatient centers, can be pricey. However, there are many options available to people who need help paying for treatment. Many insurance plans cover some or all of the costs of treatment, and some programs allow for payment plans or reduced costs based on financial needs. Don’t let money be the only thing that stands in your way.

Myth: You Can Do It On Your Own

Although the desire to quit will be crucial in successfully making it through treatment, that on its own isn’t enough. Treatment provides the expert advice of people who can help you through it, as well as accountability, structure and support to help you avoid falling back into bad habits once you’re done.

Why Treatment Shouldn’t Be Intimidating

The best treatment centers strike a balance between compassion and tough love. Going through this process can be difficult, and the staff and medical teams know this. Ultimately, they want to see you get through the initial phases of recovery while arming you for the years ahead. While treatment is often a vital first step, recovery from addiction is a lifelong process.

Find Your Treatment

Regardless of what you struggle with, how bad your situation is, where you live or how much money you make, there is a treatment option available for you. It’s an investment you can make in yourself and your future. Contact a treatment provider today and take your first step towards a new life.