Myths Surrounding Drug Abuse and Addiction

Misconceptions and wrong information often fuel drug abuse, leading to addiction. Despite being an emotional issue, drug addiction is mostly surrounded by conflicting views. Moreover, portrayal of the stereotypical drug addict in movies and television has given rise to a plethora of misconceptions which divert the reality, creating problems for both the addict and the society.

Due to the prevailing misrepresentations about addiction, many addicts have to let go of their hopes of sobriety. Some of the most common myths that go around about drugs and alcohol are:

Myth 1: A typical drug user is a vile creature

The stereotypical image of a drug user that one visualizes is of a shabby-looking criminal living in the poverty-stricken bad side of town. A person dependent on drugs has the habit of mouthing obscenities and does not spend time on personal hygiene. However, studies have shown that drug addiction is a mental illness that can change the brain chemistry as well as the memory processes.

Myth 2: There is no way out of drugs

The old saying that "a leopard does not change its spots" is certainly not applicable in this case. Many success stories have, time and again, proven that even those who are neck deep into drugs can also return to sobriety, provided they get proper treatment and care.

Myth 3: Relapse is part of recovery

Though true in certain cases, a number of individuals have successfully come out of their addiction problem after undergoing proper recovery process at a drug rehab facility. Due to the prevailing fear of relapse, people often give up the fight against compulsive and even uncontrollable drug use.

Myth 4: Only hardcore drug abusers need treatment

Many drug abusers usually hit the rock bottom before going to the rehab, but this is not a rule. Recovery happens at all stages of addiction. Those who hit the rock bottom have to lose everything and even face the risk of death before they make it to the rehab.

Myth 5: Addiction is a sign of moral weakness

Drug addiction is a chronic mental illness that can change the way a person's brain functions. Many a time, genetic predisposition also plays a major role in addiction, apart from other common factors, such as environmental, developmental, and other psychological factors. Thus, it is inappropriate to describe addiction as a reflection of one's moral character.

Myth 6: Anything prescribed by a doctor is safe

Many prescription drugs are highly addictive and powerful, with chemical structures identical to heroin. In fact, if prescription drugs are abused, they may become the gateway to heroin and other street drugs.

Myth 7: Only hard drugs are lethal, the others are not that bad

While heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine are infamous for their life-threatening consequences, there are numerous other substances or intoxicants that can cause addiction and dependence leading to several impaired body functions and other mental health-related disorders. Alcohol is a classic example of a socially accepted and popular substance which can be lethal if abused.

There is hope

https://ezinearticles.com/?Myths-Surrounding-Drug-Abuse-and-Addiction&id=9577153

5 Inspiring Success Stories of Seniors

Success stories motivate many people. When it comes to seniors, there are several examples of people who had a colossal career which may influence them.

1. John Mahoney 

Despite the fact that John Mahoney is an actor, he is famous for his TV role as Martin Crane on Frasier. He didn't make a transition into acting until the point when he was 37 years of age. He quit his job as the proofreader of a medical journal to seek his dream of having a stage career. He acknowledged medical journalism wasn't for him. His first film came out in 1980 in which he played Frasier's dad. He keeps on being dynamic in front of a live audience and on TV.

2. Estelle Getty 

Getty played mother to everyone except Attila the Hun. She wrote the statement in her 1988 collection of memoirs. But, we know her best as Sophia, the mother of Bea Arthur's character Dorothy on the TV sitcom The Golden Girls. She acted in front of an audience for almost 50 years before her first on-screen performance. Her profession touched the skies and she won an Emmy award. She won many accolades for her stunning performance in The Golden Girls.

3. Louise Bourgeois 

The provocative artist Louise Bourgeois made illustrations, prints, and sculptures throughout her life. But, she became famous in her mid-70s after a 1982 review of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The New York Times depicts her remarkable career as a mixture of many factors. In the world of art, where ladies may receive poor reviews and feel disheartened she assumed a meaningful presence. Her work was praised by many as a self-assured feminist. Her determination paved the way and boost confidence for young artists.

4. Phyllis Diller 

Phyllis Diller studied at Chicago's Sherwood Music Conservatory. After a year she dropped out and move to California. She had six children when she came to California. In 1955, at the age 37, she was filling in as a writer for a Bay Area daily paper. She appeared as a competitor on You Bet Your Life, Groucho Marx's game show. Her big appearance in San Francisco happened soon afterward. This took her to the first stage and screen acting appearances in 1961. Other than a long-acting profession, Diller was a professional piano player and creator of five blockbusters.

5. Kathryn Bigelow 

It might seem difficult to accept, but Bigelow didn't start working as a director. She directed The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty and was the first woman to win an Academy Award for Best Director. She started making films in the 80s, after an early profession as a painter and theoretical craftsman in Manhattan. Her second career in film is high profile and historic. She makes films on provocative subjects and courageously handles sensitive issues in her movies. She wanted to reach to a more extensive gathering of people.

http://ezinearticles.com/?5-Inspiring-Success-Stories-of-Seniors&id=9810708