A great many lingering myths about addiction pervade our perceptions of the disease, and these myths are universally unhelpful to those struggling with disease, and in some case propagate the negative stigma too often attached to those that do successfully beat their disease.

Addicts do not have to hit rock bottom before initiating a treatment, and waiting until that terrible time comes almost invariably makes the ultimate task of recovery that much harder. Alcoholics and addicts also do not need to initiate treatment of their own accord, and those mandated to treatment through the courts, through the workplace or out of familial pressure do just as well as those who seek help on their own.

But perhaps most damaging is the myth of addiction as an illness related to willpower.

It's easy to understand the roots of the perception, and for those people not addicted to any form of drugs or alcohol, the use of these substances is a matter of conscious control, and although these substances may sometimes tempt, we can control our impulses out of an exercise of willpower.

But once use and abuse progresses to addiction, there are physical changes in the brain and these changes remove willpower or any form of conscious awareness from the cravings and impulses that lead to use. Addiction occurs within the mesolimbic dopaminergic systems of the brain, and the cravings that emerge from this area of the brain are not at all under conscious control.

Addiction has a mind of its own

Addiction truly has a mind of its own, and the actions and impulses on a preconscious level prompt much of the seemingly decisive behaviors of the addict or alcoholic, and because these impulses exist preconsciously, it can be very difficult for recovering alcoholics or addicts to exert any form of control over their drug seeking behaviors.

It is for this reason why abuse is so much easier to treat than addiction and why addiction entrenches so firmly even in the face of persistent therapeutic attempts to better it.

For the best chance of bettering addiction, recovering addicts need pharmacological intervention…drugs that operate on this preconscious level and reduce the impulses and cravings to use. They also need to learn behavioral strategies that influence the frequency of the occurrence of these pre conscious impulses, and learn to recognize more consciously when these impulses emerge, and learn strategies to control and manage these impulses.

Will, not willpower

Labeling an addict or alcoholic as weak or lacking in willpower is misleading and inaccurate, and does not accurately reflect the challenges inherent in a battle with recovery. There is an element of determination and will that comes into play throughout recovery, but this is not be confused with willpower over use.

Will to recover means having the determination and commitment to participate fully in the therapies, education and difficult life changes that have proven effective at managing these pre conscious impulses, and maintaining a vigilant awareness over the mental processes learned to influence these cravings to abuse.

It takes a lot of will to recover but it doesn’t take willpower; willpower is irrelevant. We should be celebrating those people who have the courage and strength to change their lives for the better, instead of chastising them for their weakness and lack of willpower.