People struggling with addiction to substances may know that they have an issue. And, may have already begun to see and experience the negative effects of addiction on their own lives. But, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ready or willing to reach out for addiction help. So, what are the common issues people face with getting help for substance abuse disorder?
While many people living with active addiction may understand they are struggling with addiction, sadly, most people who are addicted to substances don’t know they have a problem at all. Or, they just deny that they need help through traditional treatment methods. According to a study done in 2016 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, of 17.7 million Americans struggling with addiction, a whopping 16.9 million said they didn’t require or want treatment. This alone is the biggest issue when it comes to getting people the addiction help they need to get better – denial.
The people that do know they may be suffering from addiction and understand they need help may just not be ready to take the first step. Even though people may see and understand the negative effects of addiction, they may still believe that their substance abuse is doing some good. For example, they may think that substance abuse is helping them deal with their emotions or letting them have a better time. So, it’s more challenging to give up, regardless of the negative consequences, because, in their addicted mind, there may still be some positives out of using addictive substances.
Another reason people may be resilient to getting professional help for treatment is that they may be worried about what others will think. Whether it’s family, friends, or even neighbors, people can be judgemental about addiction. Many don’t believe that addiction is a disease and believe the misinformed stigma that addiction is a choice. This can make people struggling with addiction reserved about getting help in fear of the judgment that others may have. But, if people don’t get the help they need, the cycle of addiction just gets more severe. And, people end up finding out anyway.
High-functioning addicts often keep their jobs until addiction gets really bad – enough to keep them from going to work and getting things done. So, they may think that keeping from getting help will allow them to continue working without having to tell their boss or affecting their job status. However, in truth, it’s not a bad thing to tell an employer about needing help for addiction. This is because people are legally protected from getting fired for reaching out to professional help. Additionally, in many cases, people can get the help they need without even having to tell their employer with outpatient methods of treatment.
Ready to finally take the steps you need to overcome the negative effects of addiction in your life? Delray Center for Recovery offers outpatient treatment for people who are living through the active cycle of addiction. This means getting help without having to uproot your life and be a resident at a residential treatment center.
Find out more about our addiction services and how we can help you or a loved one struggling with addiction today on our website.
Dr. Rodriguez founded the Delray Center in 2003 and built it on a foundation of core clinical, professional, and ethical principles that are adhered to still to this day. Dr. Rodriguez founded the Delray Center in 2003 and built it on a foundation of core clinical, professional, and ethical principles that are adhered to still to this day.