It’s safe to say that everyone has an addiction story – if not their own, then that of a friend, family member or acquaintance who has struggled with alcohol or substance use. As a society, we have grieved the loss of brilliant musicians and actors who succumbed to fatal overdoses and have applauded celebrities like First Lady Betty Ford for publicly addressing their addiction.
Nonetheless, addiction remains poorly understood, perhaps because it’s so pervasive. It’s hard not to have a strong opinion about something that can have such devastating effects on families and personal relationships. Emotions tend to run high on the subject, making it difficult for new ideas and treatment options to gain recognition.
Here are the three most important things that everyone should know about addiction:
#1. Addiction to alcohol and drugs is a chronic brain disease.
This 2017 proclamation by the Surgeon General is a game changer. Every brain is equipped with a genetic threshold that can trigger addiction. The reason why some people can use drugs and alcohol without becoming addicted is that the genetic threshold is different for everyone. Once this threshold has been crossed, the neurochemistry in the brain changes, creating a “new normal,” or homeostasis. The brain essentially rewires itself for dependence on the substance.
What’s it all mean? We can now throw away the guilt, shame and moral depravity that we attach to people who have a lower addiction threshold. It also means that no one is “immune” to addiction, and everyone needs to check their substance use. And most importantly, an addiction-trained therapist can incorporate evidenced-based practices like EMDR that use bilateral brain stimulation to support recovery by retraining the brain.
#2. There are many pathways to recovery.
There are many different ways to approach the treatment of drug and alcohol addiction. Abstinence isn’t the only option. Under the right circumstances, harm reduction (reducing substance use to minimize physical damage) is a vital treatment option for some people.
12-step abstinence programs, whether faith-based like Alcoholics Anonymous, or secular versions like LifeRing, can be highly effective for some and not at all for others. It’s important to recognize that there is no “one size fits all” solution for addiction recovery, and to work with an addiction-qualified therapist who will help identify the best options for you or your loved one.
#3. There’s no room for tough love.
Now that we understand how the brain becomes wired for addiction, we can officially do away with the notion of “tough love.” Isolating a loved one who is suffering from addiction, a chronic brain disease, makes about as much sense as punishing a diabetic for having an insulin reaction. What is needed here is specialized knowledge and skills development for the addict’s family and support system. It is imperative that the family/support system have their own therapist, separate from the therapist working with their loved one.