If you or a loved one suffer from a substance use disorder, you may have questions about rehab. During your research about addiction treatment, you may come across some of the misconceptions and myths that are perpetuated about rehab. For example, some people think you must hit rock bottom before you are ready for treatment, while others believe that rehab will cure addiction.
While it is important to research drug rehab and how it works, you must look at reliable sources that can provide you with the facts. Without doing so, you could begin to believe in the myths surrounding rehab, which often prevent people from receiving the help they need. Being aware of the misconceptions about addiction treatment and learning the truth can help you receive the support you need.
Myth #1: Rehab Will Cure Your Addiction
One of the most common misconceptions about addiction treatment is that it will cure your substance use disorder. While rehab is the best way to recover from addiction, it only teaches you how to manage your condition.
Drug addiction is a chronic and progressive disease that must be managed and treated for the rest of your life. Many people compare this to diabetes, as both conditions must be diligently managed if you want to prevent it from worsening or flaring up. Just like diabetics use insulin to keep their condition under control, people with addiction must continue to practice recovery maintenance techniques to prevent relapse.
To put things simply, rehab is not a cure for addiction. Addiction treatment helps you learn how to manage your condition, stay sober, and prevent relapses from occurring. After you complete a drug rehab program, you must continue to partake in the recovery techniques and coping mechanisms you learned during treatment.
Myth #2: You’ll Get Fired if You Take Time Off For Treatment
Another common misconception about drug rehab is that you will get fired if you take time off from work to get the help you need. In most cases, your company cannot fire you for attending addiction treatment. Thanks to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), individuals who work in state and local governmental units, as well as private companies with 15 or more employees, cannot be fired for seeking drug and alcohol recovery services.[1]
Additionally, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows you to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for serious illness if you meet the criteria. Under this law, “serious illness” includes substance use disorders and addiction under certain circumstances.
To take advantage of the FMLA, you must:[2]
- Use the leave to attend treatment
- Have worked for your current employer for at least 12 months before taking leave, and have worked at least 1,250 hours in those months
- Work for a company with at least 50 employees either on-site or within 75 miles
Myth #3: Rehab is not Covered by Health Insurance
Another reason people avoid going to rehab is the cost of treatment. Addiction treatment includes a variety of services, including medical detox, general medical care, psychiatric services, holistic therapies, and amenities like massage and acupuncture therapy. Programs that provide all of these services can be extremely expensive, making it difficult for people to afford the help they need.
Thankfully, addiction treatment is typically covered by health insurance. This includes Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance companies like Humana or Aetna, and federal military insurance. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) considers addiction treatment services as an essential health care benefit.[3]
Even if you do not have health insurance, there are many ways to make rehab more affordable. You can take out personal loans, receive crowd-sourced funding from friends, or attend state-funded programs that offer scholarships or sliding-scale fee programs.
Get The Care You Need and Deserve
Woburn Addiction Treatment is a leader in the addiction treatment field, with proven success in facilitating long-term recovery. Our team of top clinical & medical experts specializes in treating addiction coupled with mental illness, ensuring that each person receives individualized care. Call us – we’re available 24/day, 7 days/week.
Myth #4: You Have to Hit Rock Bottom to Go to Rehab
Many people perpetuate the harmful misconception that addiction treatment is only for people who have reached rock bottom. “Rock bottom” is defined as the lowest point during someone’s addiction. When people are told that they cannot receive treatment until they reach rock bottom, they are at risk of experiencing devastating consequences of addiction, such as incarceration, homelessness, and even fatal overdoses.
Instead of waiting until you are at your lowest point, you should seek help as soon as you realize you have a problem. Some people think they have reached rock bottom, only to realize that their bottom sinks even deeper with continued drug abuse. Because no set circumstance defines rock bottom, you should seek help whenever you feel ready.
Myth #5: Going to Rehab Means You Have to Quit Cold Turkey
Many people think that drug rehab centers require you to quit using substances cold turkey. This idea causes people to avoid getting the help they need out of fear of experiencing severe symptoms of withdrawal. Thankfully, this is one of the many myths associated with addiction treatment.
In reality, most drug rehab programs use medication-assisted treatment (MAT), a recovery technique that involves the use of medications to soothe symptoms of withdrawal and prevent cravings. This keeps patients medically stable, safe, and comfortable throughout the withdrawal process. In other words, attending addiction treatment will prevent you from experiencing the worst effects of drug withdrawal.
Start Your Recovery Today
If you or a loved one struggles with a substance use disorder, help is available. Drug rehab programs like Woburn Addiction Treatment can provide you with the care and support you need to overcome addiction safely and comfortably. Woburn Addiction Treatment providers are licensed clinical treatment professionals committed to compassionate, cutting-edge, evidence-based practice shared in a vibrant exchange between client and clinician. At Woburn Addiction Treatment, no one is a passive recipient of our expertise. Our clinical team highly values the experiences of loved ones as well, incorporating family sessions as part of the individual’s treatment. Don’t wait any longer to get the help you deserve. Call now to speak with an admissions coordinator about your treatment options.
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