Substance use disorders (SUD) are some of the most highly stigmatized health conditions worldwide, and stigma creates barriers to early intervention, screening, treatment, and effective recovery. Addressing addiction like a disease instead of a moral failing requires shifts in practice as well as understanding. There is also a significant body of research defining the most effective treatments for substance use disorder (SUD). Yet many myths persist about the nature of addiction and the right ways to treat it. These myths remain due to various factors, most of which are rooted in deep-set cultural notions of addiction that fail to consider the science behind the disorder. These myths are uniquely harmful as they are often “assumed” to be true and thus considered by some to be self-evident.
In this two-part presentation, participants will learn about addiction myths and misinformation, including the myth of ”28 days,” the myth of replacing one drug for another, and the myth of “rock bottom”.