Myth Demystified: Recovered Addicts Less Prone to New Addiction

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Myth Demystified: Recovered Addicts Less Prone to New Addiction

Renaissance Ranch Outpatient 9160 South 300 West, Suite 13, Sandy Utah 84070 801.572.4325


Because of high relapse rates, most people tend to assume that however effective the recovery is for addicted patients, they will most likely turn to new addictions after getting clean. Recent studies, however, debunks that myth. Clinical psychiatrists and researchers revealed that recovered patients are less likely to adopt new addictions, compared to people who never managed the first substance abuse issues. Breaking the Myth Researchers

examined

nationally

representative figures from surveys conducted in 2001

and

2004.

They

assessed

how

new

substance addiction happened among adults who had at least one substance addiction. The

study

looked

at

almost

35,000

participants and their drug behavior. Among those participants, almost 3,275 people who struggled with addiction problems at the first interview, did not recover by the second assessment. On the other hand, approximately 2,741 people who also claimed they struggle with addiction problems, had overcome their addiction by the second interview. In the follow-up interview, around 20% developed a new addiction. This number, however, represents 27% of participants who have never reallyrecovered from their original addiction and the 13% of those who managed to get clean. Because of this, the researchers concluded that those who had overcome their substance abuse issues between the two assessments were less prone to new addiction, compared to those who had not.


Striving for Lasting Change The

researchers

findings

should

said serve

that

the

as

an

encouragement to people battling substance abuse issues. It should give them the motivation to pursue the road to recovery to reduce the risk for new addictions. For the public, the researchers hope to reduce the

stigma attached

to

recovering addicted patients. One of the reasons most patients fail to get out of the addiction cycle is the cynical perspective that addiction is just a part of their personality.To be successful in recovery, one must start with conditioning the mind. At treatment centers, they use a range of therapies to train the mind into adopting healthier thought patterns. Therapists also impart compelling reasons to pursue recovery, along with skills and strategies. Relapse prevention is difficult, but definitely possible.With the right therapy to support intentions of getting clean, one can achieve full recovery.

RESOURCES: http://www.renaissanceoutpatient.com/outpatient-programs/substance-abuse http://www.helpguide.org/articles/addiction/drug-abuse-and-addiction.htm http://www.everydayhealth.com/addiction/understanding-addiction-relapse.aspx


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