Can you self-help yourself out of drug or alcohol addiction? It’s no secret that the do-it-yourself craze is huge. Google just about any “how to” topic and a repository of DIY articles will pop. But is the do-it-yourself craze applicable to addiction? Can you successfully quit an addictive substance through the sheer power of self-change?
Recent Scientific Findings
Scientific American published a review of scientific findings that indicated self-help options are viable addiction kickers. But the findings were highly controversial.
Stanley Schachter, an eminent social psychologist, released findings in 1982 that showed former smokers and overweight people successfully changing without treatment. He went on to cite a study in which heroin users without treatment also saw successful change. His findings raised even more controversy when he revealed that his so-called self-changers had a greater success rate than those who underwent professional treatment.
Schacher’s conclusions were met with skepticism, and why he found what he shared came under intense scrutiny. He admitted that people who sought treatment were likely more severely addicted than self-changers and that other studies examined only one change endeavor, whereas his research focused on a lifetime of efforts.
Recently, Reginald Smart, a psychologist at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, reviewed findings on self-change efforts amongst drinkers. He found that:
- A significant number of self-changers can maintain their recovery with follow-up periods of more than eight years.
- Some were able to maintain a pattern of non-problematic drinking in moderate amounts without relapse.
- Individuals who seek treatment almost always have more severe alcohol and related addiction problems versus successful self-changers.
Can You Self-Help Your Substance Addiction?
Documented studies since the 1980s reveal a somewhat surprising fact. Some people can self-help their way out of a substance abuse or addiction problem. But it’s not a guarantee. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, self-help groups and techniques can complement and extend the effects of professional drug addiction treatment; however, they are not necessarily a total replacement.
Addictive substances affect the body on a physical and psychological level. The magnitude of a person’s abuse or addiction heavily impacts the success of the self-help, self-change approach. Substance abuse, dependence, and addiction are three very separate conditions, the nature and severity of which can influence which type of treatment will be best suited to generate results.
Substance abuse counselors are specially trained to recognize the level of a substance issue and identify the best course of action for enacting change. While self-change is and can be a viable means of quitting an unhealthy habit, it would be wise to seek a professional opinion before creating a self-made plan on your own.
You can do-it-yourself your way out of substance abuse. But it won’t be easy. Professional support can be a seemingly small thing that turns any self-help treatment option into a success. Don’t shy away from help or think that overcoming a substance problem is purely a matter of willpower. Don’t fall victim to one of the many myths of addiction.