When people throw around the term addictive personality, they’re often referring to what they see as a tendency to abuse substances or fixate on certain risky activities or adrenaline-seeking behaviors. The phase can be used jokingly, as an insult, or as a well-intentioned diagnosis.
Since the 1990s, this idea of an addictive personality has embedded itself in mainstream culture and conversations around substance use disorders (SUDs), mental health issues, and compulsive behavior. The media, friends and family, and even the recovery and sobriety space have been guilty of perpetuating this idea. But according to science, an “addictive personality” does not exist.
Where Did The Addictive Personality Myth Come From?
The idea of an addictive personality was one of the many marketing strategies of select pharmaceutical companies in the 90s. When new painkillers hit the market, doctors had concerns over whether or not to prescribe such strong medications to people dealing with minor chronic aches and pains. They saw the potential for dependence and addiction.
In response, certain drug companies reassured doctors that only patients who were born with an “addictive personality” could or would abuse the medication. Did these companies purposely play into the cultural stigma that only people with character flaws would resort to substance abuse? It’s hard to say. What we do know is that the concept of an addictive personality directly fueled that stigma in lasting and dangerous ways.
Why Is The Myth So Harmful To People in Recovery?
The idea of an addictive personality is harmful in part because it’s an incredible oversimplification of the reality of substance use disorder. It doesn’t take into account genetics, environment, mental health, support systems, or anything else that can contribute to the misuse of substances.
Instead, it places all the blame and the responsibility on the individual. This prevents others from understanding addiction and, potentially, from fully supporting a person who is battling the disease. It’s an idea that leads to judgment, hostility, and dismissal.
In reality, people don’t exist in a vacuum. Substance use disorder is a complex medical phenomena, and recovering from it requires support and understanding–from family members, friends, healthcare practitioners, employers, and society at large.
Counteracting The Addictive Personality Myth With St. Joseph Institute in Pennsylvania
At St. Joseph Institute For Addiction, we know that a solid education is the be-all-end-all when it comes to understanding the complex, nuanced experience of substance abuse across personality types, races, ages, genders, nationalities, cultures, and more. We provide recovery and addiction education for this reason. We can also recommend great reads on supporting addiction recovery for all of our bookworms who are eager to dispel the addictive personality myth and replace that knowledge with helpful tools and clarifying facts.
On another note, even if you’ve convinced yourself that your personality is to blame, we can provide a thorough medical and mental health assessment. The goal of the assessment process is to fully analyze where you’re at physically, mentally, and psychologically, and whether you’re dealing with a mental health disorder. The assessment findings help us personalize your treatment plan to be as effective as possible, addressing all aspects of your health: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Visit Us in Port Matilda For Substance Use Disorder Support
Fighting addiction stigma to promote your lasting recovery is no easy task. That’s why our team of healthcare professionals is ready to provide support with holistic therapy options as you embrace recovery. Contact us today to gain a trusted network of professionals who see you as a complex human being and never as an addiction-prone personality.
