Hurdles Hinder Addiction Recovery

Influences Hamper Help

Image by Christo Anestev from Pixabay

What’s the biggest hurdle to addiction recovery?

Why don’t people with addiction flock into treatment like patients who want to lose weight flooded the doctors’ offices to ask for Wegovy or Ozempic?

News about the success of Semaglutide injections spread like wildfire. What’s the latest about addiction treatment? What’s the buzz about treating for the buzz?

The buzzer is silent. Some persons with an addiction believe that they will get better without help. There are other barriers, but there are remedies.

“His voice falls to a whisper, as though he’s talking to himself. “If you’re the sickness, I suppose you can’t also be the cure.”― Holly Black, The Wicked King

Successful addiction treatment: Reduce Stigma

“When I was growing up, when I thought of an alcoholic, I thought of some toothless old guy in a trench coat in a basement somewhere. I just never thought that would apply to me. That type of stigma kept me from getting the help that I needed when I knew I needed it.” — Joe Manganiello, actor

An objectionable stigma hooks onto the addiction label.

“As I’ve had to remind myself, if you have a problem, getting help is a sign of courage, not weakness or failure. With acceptance and humility, I continue to avail myself with the help of so many people and I am grateful to all those who are there for me. I hope down the road I can offer an example to others who are struggling.” — Ben Affleck, actor

Personal, social, and systemic barriers prevent individuals from engaging in addiction recovery programs. These barriers can vary depending on several factors.

Discrimination and inequalities changes the way marginalized groups’ access to healthcare and recovery services.

The attitude of bias extensively criminalized providing and using illegal substances and participating in gambling and sex work. Socially, addictive behaviors have been considered sins, moral weaknesses, or symptoms of brain disease.

“But if we choose to look at things through the eyes of God, we see addiction as a sin; We see dysfunctional behaviors as sin. We realize we are not helpless victims of circumstances but we have fallen into sin.” — Alcoholics Victorious Headquarters, founded 1948

These attitudes discourage individuals attached to their social status or business position from seeking support. Fear of judgment or negative perceptions from society can lead to reluctance to join recovery programs when the program admits participants of lesser status.

Successful addiction treatment: Increase Awareness

There is also a lack of awareness of the help that is accessible.

“I realized that I only had two choices: I was either going to die, or I was going to live, and which one did I want to do? And then I said those words, ‘I’ll get help,’ or, ‘I need help. I’ll get help.’ And my life turned around. Ridiculous for a human being to take 16 years to say, ‘I need help.’” — Elton John, singer and composer

Potential recovery participants might not be aware of recovery programs or the benefits they offer. This lack of information can hinder the assistance available to those seeking help.

“Most addicts I have talked to report a similar experience. They did not start using drugs for any reason they can remember. They just drifted along until they got hooked. If you have never been addicted, you can have no clear idea what it means to need junk with the addict’s special need. You don’t decide to be an addict. One morning you wake up sick and you’re an addict.“ — William S. Burroughs, writer

Although insurance may cover the cost of treatment, and some treatments are free, financial constraints appear daunting to some.

The cost associated with treatment programs, primarily inpatient or intensive outpatient options, can be a significant barrier for individuals without adequate insurance coverage or financial means.

Successful addiction treatment: Improve Accessibility

(1) living too far away for treatment, not knowing where to go for treatment, having difficulty getting to and from treatment, and not understanding the addiction treatment options.

(2) being wait-listed for a facility, and having to go through too many steps contributed to deterring them from seeking treatment.

Treatment may be inaccessible or limited to those in need due to other factors. Geographical location can impact access to treatment centers and support groups, especially in rural or remote areas where such resources might be scarce.

Lack of dependable transportation or the inability to take time off from work or family responsibilities can hinder participation in recovery programs.

Successful addiction treatment: Promote Culturally Sensitive and Inclusive Treatment Options

Language barriers and cultural insensitivity in treatment settings can alienate individuals from diverse backgrounds and prevent them from seeking help.

Religious or cultural factors or belonging to minority faiths might discourage individuals from seeking professional help and instead encourage them to rely solely on spiritual or traditional methods.

“God will remove the addiction at the right time.” — Anonymous

Some ecclesiastics do not encourage their followers to participate in recovery efforts uncontrolled by their worship practices.

A sensitive and inclusive treatment option may include family treatment together, encourage musicians to being their instruments, or arrange for participants to meet with co-religionists.

Co-occurring mental health disorders can complicate recovery by those unaware of the connection between mental health and addiction. Unlicensed or rehab facilities remote from authoritative overwatch lack access to or do not provide dual-diagnosis treatment. As a result, priorities may become scrambled as to which recovery effort should come first: addiction treatment or mental health procedures.

Individuals without a strong support network, whether family, friends, or a community, may find it more challenging to take a step toward recovery. What I may consider a long and arduous task, if unencouraged by someone, may never start. When uncheered and unappreciated, an effort diminishes sometimes to the point of disappearance.

Sam D. Parker is a retired drug rehab counselor communicating the value of increased awareness of addiction, planting, nourishing, and cultivating ideas, images, and emotions about the effect of addictive conditions on the human mind.

Selfie image by computer in Texas

I write about addiction, so please consider reading more about this condition, including articles by other Medium writers like Madison Chaney, Sushant Gangane, Phyllis Unterschuetz, Ashley Neale, Diana Leotta, Kinley Slayed, Caryn Leach-Smith, Rev. Sheri Heller, LCSW, RSW, and Robert G. Longpré.

Please hover over the name and right-click to open their stuff in a new tab.

Please read, clap for this story, and respond. Then, follow me and share the story. Please subscribe to my emails here on Medium https://medium.com/@sdparker so you can read all my articles.

Become a member and subscribe to Medium https://medium.com/ to read thousands of articles each month!