What are some of the popular myths about addiction with which you are familiar? Give examples.

Do drugs really “fry” your brain? Once an addict, always an addict? Is there such a thing as an “addiction gene”?

The subject of addiction is plagued by myths and misinformation that were created to scare our children away from drugs. But these haven’t succeeded, and have actually made it harder for addicts to seek treatment and to return to a normal life.

As a former methamphetamine addict myself, I know how hard it is to overcome both the addiction and, possibly even more so, the stigma that society places on us because of these myths.

In fact, in a study I’m currently conducting at the University of California Los Angeles, we’re finding even more evidence that one of the top reasons addicts put off treatment is a fear of the social consequences. In a nutshell, people fear the label of “recovered addict” more than they do the hardships of going “cold turkey.”

Why? Because in many cases they risk facing social humiliation and a variety of legal restrictions on driving, housing, custody of children, business licensing, as well as an extended period of mandated drug testing, many of which stem from a misunderstanding of addiction.

Addiction: The disease that lies

In my own case, I’m still required to finish three years of drug testing before I can earn a state psychology license — in spite of the fact that I’ve already received a Ph.D., been drug-free for 10 years, successfully completed a drug rehab program and undergone three years of previous drug testing.

Since September is National Recovery Month, it’s worth taking a closer look at the top addiction myths that hold us back from a real understanding of what addiction is, what the real dangers are and how we should manage this national problem.

Myth No. 1: There is an addiction gene

There is no single gene, or set of genes, that determines whether or not a person will become an addict. And even if a person’s parents are addicts, it doesn’t mean they will be too. Current addiction research shows that roughly 50% of addiction tendencies are attributable to genes.

That’s a high percentage, but it still leaves half of the equation up to the environment and personal experiences. The addiction gene myth lulls many people into a false sense of confidence about their own drug use while paradoxically also discouraging many addicts from seeking treatment.

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