What Are the Biggest Misconceptions About Rehab?

Every year, millions of Americans suffer from some form of substance abuse. Whether they are abusing legal substances such as nicotine and alcohol, or federally illegal substances such as opioids, one thing remains true: the vast majority of those who are classified as needing substance abuse treatment chose to not receive any form of treatment. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in 2020, 14.9% of people aged 12 or older (or 41.1 million people) were classified as needing substance use treatment during the previous year. Despite this staggering number, among the individuals aged 12 or older who were classified as needing substance use treatment, 97.5% did not feel they needed treatment.

This astounding gap in those who are considered in need of  substance abuse treatment, and those who choose not to receive any form of professional treatment can certainly be attributed to the plentiful misconceptions surrounding rehabilitation treatment. In order to better understand why so many individuals are choosing to avoid treatment, it is important to understand what the misconceptions that surround rehab are, and what causes them.

While many people have been exposed to some form of rehabilitation treatment, usually through media,  rehab is a largely foreign and unfamiliar experience for most. This leads many to approach the subject with trepidation. Because of this, many people don’t  have any real insight into what actually occurs in a modern day rehabilitation clinic. Let’s take a closer look at the biggest misconceptions about rehab. 

Misconception #1: You should only seek rehabilitation treatment once you have hit rock bottom.

It is important to understand that no matter where you are in the addiction cycle, you can and should seek help. It is a common misconception that you should only go to rehab once your substance abuse problem has completely taken over your life. This is categorically false and a very dangerous view on rehabilitation treatment. Delaying treatment will only compound the problems and the further you find yourself in the stages of addiction, the harder it can be to recover. If you find yourself or someone you know to be struggling with substance abuse, we encourage you to visit www.sunshineheavioralhealth.com right away. We are always here to help.

Misconception #2: Rehabilitation treatment is only for the rich and famous.

This misconception can almost certainly be attributed to the media and its coverage of celebrities and their substance abuse struggles. Whether you are looking for information regarding celebrities and their rehab treatment, or just scrolling through various news sources or social media, it does not take long to find some sort of coverage on a celebritie’s struggle with substance abuse.Despite what you see on the news, there are still millions of ordinary individuals who seek treatment every year.

Misconception #3: Rehab is only for “hardcore” drug users.

A major reason many people avoid seeking rehabilitation treatment is because of this common misconception that rehab is only for “hardcore” drug users.. Just because a substance is legal on a federal level does not mean someone can’t abuse it and ultimately become addicted— alcoholism for example. Once you reach the legal drinking age of 21 here in the United States, you are legally free to purchase and consume as much alcohol as you want. Alcohol is one of the most addictive substances and ultimately causes more damage to the population than most “hardcore” drugs. If you find yourself becoming more and more dependent on alcohol or any other legal substance, do NOT hesitate to seek treatment. Rehabs are designed to treat all sorts of addictions, and often you will find a majority of people in rehabilitation treatment centers are seeking treatment for alcoholism. Don’t let this common misconception steer you away from the treatment you may need. It is important to stop thinking of rehab as treatment for illicit substance addictions, but rather as a place for sick people to get better. 

Misconception #4: You will have to go “cold turkey”.

The notion that once you check in to a rehab clinic you will have to quit “cold turkey” or overnight is unequivocally false. The whole point of a rehabilitation clinic is to medically assist in detoxing those suffering from addiction. Rehabilitation centers such as Sunshine Behavioral Health are filled with medical professionals and consultants. These professionals know that going cold turkey is often not the best course of action. In fact, some substances have such severe withdrawal symptoms that if you are far enough into the addiction cycle, going cold turkey could have serious consequences on your health. As such, these professionals work alongside patients and figure out what is the best way to go about your addiction treatment in order to minimize withdrawal symptoms and ultimately achieve long-term results.

Here at Sunshine Behavioral Health  our mission is to provide the highest quality substance abuse treatment services and deliver them with passion, integrity, and company spirit. We are dedicated to providing individuals with the tools they need to overcome their substance abuse dependencies and learn to manage co-occurring disorders. If you, or someone you know, is suffering from substance abuse we encourage you to visit www.sunshineheavioralhealth.com. Don’t wait another day, Sunshine Behavioral Health is here to help.

Sources:

https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/2021-10/2020_NSDUH_Highlights.pdf \

https://unsplash.com/photos/zAUFtGIWc0E