There are a number of myths that pervade our social consciousness pertaining to addiction, and these myths are almost universally unhelpful to addicts afflicted with the disease of addiction, and contribute greatly to the stigma that even recovering alcoholics and drug addicts must endure.

Addicts don’t have to hit “rock bottom” before getting help. In fact waiting this long almost always makes things far more difficult, and the necessary therapy and recovery needed that much longer. Addicts do not need to decide for themselves to get treatment either, and statistics show that addicts mandated to attend drug or alcohol treatment are just as successful as those that attend of their own accord.

But the possibly the most harmful myth related to addiction is that addicts are somehow weak, or lacking in willpower.

The impulses of addiction are beyond conscious control

It’s easy for us to explain addiction and the behaviors of use out of a framework of personal strength and willpower, and for those not addicted, willpower does control how much we drink, or even use illicit drugs. But for an addict, once drugs or alcohol abuse becomes addiction, willpower becomes irrelevant.