“People could get over addiction if they just put their minds to it.” “Once an addict, always an addict.” “If I help my friend struggling with addiction, isn’t that just enabling them?” You may have heard — or thought — one or more of these common misconceptions about addiction. Substance dependence is an issue that affects so many of us, and strong opinions and proposed solutions are everywhere. But which ones are true, and which ones have the potential to cause further harm?
To round out our series on common misconceptions — following up on our debunking of poverty and homelessness stereotypes — we’re taking a closer look at the societal attitudes and beliefs that make it harder for people struggling with addiction to access the help they need. To gain firsthand perspective, we spoke with Katrina, Aftercare Coordinator with Women & Families Programming, on what she sees in her day-to-day work with women navigating addiction. As someone with her own recovery journey, Katrina has seen how outdated ideology can add stress to an already stressful experience.
“Making assumptions based on stereotypes is unfair to everyone in their recovery,” she explains. “People in recovery already carry a lot of their own guilt and shame, and have a lot on their plate. It's hard to focus on yourself if you have all these other voices telling you that you're not good enough, or that you need to do better.”
But how can we do better at supporting our friends and loved ones experiencing addiction without perpetuating stereotypes? Let’s jump in.
Misconception #1: Addiction is a choice.
Truth: Addiction is a disease.
This harmful misconception is understandable — we all like to believe we’re in control of our behaviours. But the prolonged, involuntary use of a habit or substance is not a choice: it’s actually a rewiring of the brain. To quote Yale Medicine, “addiction develops when the pleasure circuits in the brain get overwhelmed, in a way that can become chronic and sometimes even permanent.”
“Addiction is an illness, and one that is incredibly difficult to overcome for many people,” shares Katrina. “Someone who struggles with an addiction is caught in the grip of something so powerful that even the people and the things that they love are not enough to break free from it. Addiction is scary, and sometimes people forget that the person experiencing addiction is also hurting, sometimes even more than their loved ones. People don't make a conscious decision to be an addict. It’s an illness that needs to be treated just like any other.”
When we recognize that the roots of addiction are often connected to underlying trauma, it can help us understand that substance dependence isn’t simply a choice. Like anyone with any chronic condition, people struggling with addiction deserve access to treatment and care.
Misconception #2: People have to ‘hit rock bottom’ before seeking treatment.
Truth: Anyone can realize they need help at any time.
The narrative of the downward addiction spiral is a familiar one — we often hear of people losing their jobs or their housing as a part of their addiction journeys. But just because something happens sometimes doesn’t mean we should accept it as standard.
“Recovery comes in all shapes and sizes,” says Katrina. “For some people, maybe their rock bottom is what it takes for them to get help. But ultimately, it just comes down to having the desire to want something different for your life, and being willing to do something about it. And I think that it’s different for everybody.”
Instead of a sequence of losses followed by a crash, Katrina suggests that we make space for people having turning points at any stage of their addiction journeys. “I know someone who was drinking a lot more than usual for two or three months,” she says. “They realized ‘I don’t usually drink this much; this is problematic behaviour.’ And they actually went and made an appointment with their counsellor to talk about it and do things differently. Recognizing behaviour you want to change can happen in a short period.”
Misconception #3: If I try to support someone struggling with addiction, I’m enabling them.
Truth: Sometimes support can protect people on their journeys toward recovery.
Whether you’re a parent of a child experiencing addiction, or you’re walking with a friend in a hard season of substance dependence, none of the answers on how to help are simple. The illness of addiction is complex, and can cause relational hurt on all sides. But that doesn’t mean that continuing to show kindness to your loved ones is furthering their illness.
“There’s this idea that you have to apply tough love if you want people’s addiction to change,” says Katrina. “But that’s not going to help somebody change, it’s just going to encourage them to find ways to distance themselves.”
Katrina instead suggests caring for your loved ones with practical supports like food or other items they need. “I know people feel that if they’re giving somebody money for something, then you're enabling them,” she says, “But if you aren’t willing to be there to support them, what is the alternative for them? What could that look like? People experiencing addiction will find a way to get what they need — and sometimes not in the greatest way. You can still care for someone with rides or food or other necessities.”
These touchpoints can have a profound impact. “When you’re experiencing addiction, your relationships can make it easier or more difficult to get to recovery. If you have supportive people who understand that you want to try to get to a better place, that’s all you could really ask for. Not everyone’s so lucky.”
Misconception #4: ‘Once an addict, always an addict.’
Truth: No one can be reduced to one aspect of their experiences.
“People say that all the time, ‘once an addict, always an addict,’” says Katrina. “And I mean, I have visually seen with my own eyes all the ways that that mentality is so wrong. I've seen countless people — including myself — who have gotten out of addiction and gone on to do really amazing things.”
The stereotype of ‘once an addict, always an addict’ risks reducing people to a limited view of their potential and personality. Rather than being stuck at a certain stage of identity, people who undertake recovery are walking into a season of growth, maturation, and flexibility. Many people make going back to school part of their recovery process, and at UGM, alumnae have the opportunity to try out internships and the Peer Leadership Program (PLP) to support other women in recovery. It’s steps like these that show that people are so much more than their addiction.
That said, there’s nuance to the conversation around how people in recovery choose to self-identify. “When you’re at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, for example, you usually introduce yourself as, ‘My name is so-and-so, and I'm an addict,’” notes Katrina. “Some people will say ‘I'm a recovering addict.’ Or there are other people who don't like associating themselves with the fact that they're like an addict, because they're like, ‘I'm so much more than that.’ So they'll flip it, and they'll say, ‘I'm a recovering addict, and my name is so-and-so.’ I think as time goes on, we realize that, yes, maybe we are an addict, but we’re no longer in active addiction. It’s not the be-all and end-all to have been an addict, because in all of their years of recovery, there’s also a million other things that somebody’s gonna be.”
That’s the reason that we don’t use the standalone term “addict” often in our materials — because while we welcome community members to choose the language they feel best defines them, we never want to pigeonhole our neighbours. The same way we don’t identify our friends primarily by their digestive issues or skin conditions, we don’t categorize UGM community members by their substance dependence.
Misconception #5: Addiction treatment doesn’t work.
Truth: People are entering new seasons of sobriety every day.
Here at UGM, we see many, many stories of recovered relationships, renewed purpose, and transformed lives. But the misconception that people can’t journey out of addiction persists — perhaps out of fear for the future.
“How to prove this stereotype is incorrect? I guess you’d have to be willing to look at places like UGM and see how it’s benefiting people,” says Katrina. “You’d have to be willing to read the stories to see how people are doing who have gone through the program. I see it every day: so many people who have moved on from the program, they’re living in their own place now, able to come back and do internships and PLP and just find value in life.”
That isn’t to say the recovery road is a straight line: relapse is a common part of recovery, and for many people, treatment programming is something they engage with more than once. Some people flourish in Twelve-Step Programs, while others will benefit from opioid replacement therapy. But there is new life on the other side of active addiction, and people can and do heal and grow towards balance and healthy coping mechanisms.
While our neighbours continue to face substance use disorders and a poisoned drug supply, it’s crucial we put in the work to understand the stereotypes and misconceptions they’re up against. As we equip ourselves with fresh information, the latest research, and hearts open to listen to people’s lived experiences, we can invite more and more people into seasons of restoration and health.
Is someone you love struggling with addiction? UGM’s recovery programming supports men and women in their journeys towards recovery-centred lives. To learn more about the science behind addiction, read our comprehensive overview.
