If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction or drug addiction there are really two basic ways you can try to overcome it. You can either get professional addiction treatment or how, or you can try to beat addiction yourself. In general, I would not recommend trying to tackle it yourself because the consequences of failure are high. When we are speaking about the quality of your life or that of a loved one, it seems to only make sense to get as much help as possible.
There are two major reasons that people tend to avoid getting outside help with their addictions.
Many people have a perception that there is a huge financial costs in getting professional addiction treatment. There is a belief that the only form of treatment available is a residential treatment program which costs tens of thousands of dollars. The truth of the matter is there are many other levels and types of treatment that are much more affordable. Most treatment programs offer financial assistance, some may even charge on a sliding scale based on ability to pay. Although it may seem to be a formidable obstacle, finances as a block to addiction recovery, can usually be handled.
A second major reason that people may be hesitant to seek treatment if they are embarrassed or ashamed about being addicted to drugs or alcohol. Much as we would like to think our society is becoming more progressive, there is still a huge social stigma and stereotype attached who are addicted.
There is a significant difference in viewing someone needing addiction treatment as a morally bad person or weak willed, versus viewing addiction as a disease, and illness needing treatment.
With so much at stake, and the price of failure being so high, doesn’t it make sense to do everything possible to maximize your chances for success? Addiction treatment works.
