It is essential to understand that everyone has a risk for addiction. Not all of us abuse substances or become addicted, but it can happen to anyone. After addiction occurs, you also need to take time to understand why it happened and how to keep relapse away. All of this learning comes from addiction education.
Role of Public Addiction Education
In the public eye, addiction carries stigmas. Many myths about addiction and substance abuse also exist. However, according to neuroscience, anyone can suffer addiction. It just takes the right mix of circumstances to get there.
Addiction education helps the public understand this risk. In days gone by, people believed addiction was a moral weakness, personal flaw, bad character trait or poor choice. Addiction was also called a “habit.” Today, we know none of these beliefs hold true.
Addiction is a complex disease. No one chooses addiction, even with poor choices involved in taking the first dose. Also behind substance abuse lies pain, fear, sadness, anxiety, fear or other feelings causing physical and mental discomfort. The desire for relief from these feelings leads to substance abuse and self-medication.
Public addiction education in schools, community programs and elsewhere help others understand the journey and the needs of those stuck in the cycle of addiction. This knowledge also reduces false beliefs and builds greater compassion for people who need treatment, or those trying to maintain a sober recovery.
Truths of Addiction
Addiction is a disease. It is a chronic, relapsing disease much like heart disease, asthma, and diabetes. Also, like these other conditions, addiction requires treatment and education for lasting recovery. Without expert support, information and understanding by the person with the disease, addiction will not end.
Addiction reduces your impulse control. It also affects memory and learning. These reasons lead many experts to consider addiction a brain disease, specifically. However, addiction is both a physical and mental disease.
The disease starts with a physical tolerance of prescribed medications, for example. It also can begin with a psychological dependence on how the substances make you feel, such as with cocaine or alcohol misuse to reduce social anxiety. Eventually, your body becomes tolerant of your drug. This tolerance makes you need more of it to feel the same effects, leading you closer to full-blown addiction.
During addiction, you experience negative feelings of withdrawal if you try to stop using the substance. Withdrawal is difficult, including physical, mental and emotional effects. To keep from feeling the sickness of withdrawal, people continue using their drug or alcohol despite knowing they need help.
Many reasons lead people to addiction. These include genetics, past trauma, co-occurring mental health problems and family problems. It also comes from life stress, triggers, and some personality traits. For the addiction to heal and relapse prevention to work, addiction education is essential. You need to know why you first abused substances and how to keep your sobriety.
Addiction Education for Your Recovery
Where does education about addiction take place? For people not abusing substances, schools, the internet and television provide a great deal of information about addiction. Knowledge also comes from the supportive professionals in Florida detox centers, for those needing help achieving sobriety.
Serenity House Detox & Recovery in Fort Lauderdale and Jupiter, Florida provides addiction education, support, therapies and the guidance you need to start healthy recovery. In detox, you also get the help and care you need for your most comfortable withdrawal. As you feel better and symptoms reduce, you undergo therapies to help you make the right decisions about your future.
Programs at Serenity House Detox & Recovery include:
- Individual, family and group therapy
- Dual diagnosis treatment and education
- Relapse prevention education
- Holistic approach to wellness
- Meditation therapy
- Behavioral therapy
- Addiction counseling
Serenity House Detox & Recovery helps you get through withdrawal as comfortably as possible. If you suffer addiction or need some addiction education, call Serenity House Detox & Recovery now at 866-294-5306. The support you need awaits. You just have to make this call.