According to a 2014 report by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), over 21.5 million Americans over 12 years of age admitted having a substance abuse disorder. Sadly, only around 11% of individuals with use disorders actually seek help for their addictions. Our society is one that has been slow to recognize addiction as a chronic condition and take active steps forward to address the problem.
Every day, hundreds of individuals across the country die as a result of alcohol or drug use. We face the grim statistics daily, and, quite often, find them terrifying and difficult to understand. For outsiders, it can be hard to fathom why someone with a substance abuse disorder would not seek help and get their life back on track.
Why don’t addicts get help?
There are a number of reasons why addicts do not actively seek the help they need. For some, they are truly unsure that their substance use disorder warrants the need for help. A lot of users believe they do not need help unless they are homeless, lost everything, or the substance is killing them. Following the stereotype, these individuals often neglect to seek treatment because, although they recognize they have an addiction, they do not think it is necessarily a bad thing.
Some individuals simply do not know how to live without drugs or alcohol. Living without the substance may seem overwhelming and downright terrifying for an addict. The thought of never using again and having to deal with life sober is a very scary situation to consider.
Additionally, when an addict goes through treatment, there is a very real chance that they will fail. The very thought of this happening is quite terrifying – so much so that it prevents many users from even trying. Being sober is extremely difficult, especially for individuals who have lived for years with an addiction. They fear the possibility of failing to be sober and living a happy life. They fear to let family and friends down and, more importantly, they fear that they will let themselves down.
Let go
As humans, fear is often a barrier against what is and what can be. We often let fear influence our decisions and end up suffering as a result. If a person is even remotely considering getting help for their addiction, it is important that they know they have a support system in place and endless places to go.
As an addict, one of the best things you can do is stage your own intervention. Gather friends and family around to talk about your addictions, your actions, and how they feel about it. Quite often, our loved ones have dreams and aspirations for us that we simply are unable to see. Having your eyes opened to this will help you weigh the decision to seek help, and then actively do so.
At Asana Recovery, we welcome individuals daily that have made the decision to get the help they need. Individuals are encouraged to call us at (949)416-3341 to request an evaluation and get started.