Seeking Treatment for Substance Use Disorder

Myth vs. Fact

MYTH: People who are addicted to drugs or alcohol are poor, uneducated, unemployed, and/or homeless.

• FACT: Anyone can suffer from substance use disorder. Addiction is a disease that does not discriminate based on socioeconomic status or level of education. According to recent data, approximately 70% of adults with a substance use disorder are employed. This illness is common, recurrent, and often serious, but is also treatable.

MYTH: When you go through detox, you are left alone in a room to suffer.

• FACT: No. Medically supervised withdrawal management (the clinical name for detox) is the process of eliminating drugs and/or alcohol from the body. During this process, medical professionals carefully monitor and manage the withdrawal experience and can provide medication to manage the severity of withdrawal symptoms.

MYTH: I don’t have insurance, so I can’t afford treatment.

• FACT: Pennsylvania has funding set aside to help people without insurance afford treatment. Contact your Single County Authority to learn more.

MYTH: There aren’t enough beds.

• FACT: According to SAMHSA, more than 550 substance use treatment centers and behavioral health services for addiction are available in Pennsylvania. Rehabilitation options include over 100 detoxification centers and over 400 outpatient programs. In addition, there are over 100 long-term residential treatment centers across the Commonwealth.

MYTH: Opioid addiction is the most prevalent substance use disorder.

• FACT: More people die from opioid use disorder, but more people are addicted to alcohol.