It’s a belief of a singularity. Addiction is assumed to affect only the ones who choose to succumb to it. And their decisions — while thought to be unwise — are thoroughly their own. They have the right to make them, just as you have the right to refuse them. This is the assumption. All dependencies may be deemed unsafe but their effects are limited to the ones who indulge in them. And that’s a truth that’s not meant to be contested…. except it is.

Addiction is not an illness that’s shaped to immediacy. It’s not limited to the individual. It instead sprawls out, leaving its mark on entire communities. And — while many would wish to refute this — the statistics are undeniable.

As of 2011, America must spend over $180 billion dollars each year to battle the aftermath of addiction. This money is filtered first to the health care system (which must support treatment programs, medication, counseling and, worse, the effects of drug induced injuries — such as gun wounds, vehicle accidents and more). The courts must then receive portions of this allowance: with extra time and effort devoted to prosecuting cases and finding empty cells. And finally research must be offered funding in hopes of finding potential cures for alcoholism, tobacco diseases and more.

The numbers are staggering and the cause is avoidable. Addiction is felt among the masses, demanding higher taxes and constant awareness. This brands it far more than the choice of specific individuals — it instead makes it a national concern.

The abuse of substances must be tamed… if only to reduce the strain of the yearly budget, allowing those dollars to be given back to the communities themselves.

Some diseases can’t be cured. Some truths can’t be reversed. This is the philosophy that guides you — addiction is an inevitability, unable to be undone, shackled to compulsions that can’t be erased. There is no treatment that can end it. There is no way to heal the scars. It’s instead a certainty and can’t be conquered. Seeking help therefore would be a waste of time: there would be nothing to gain from it. You would instead only be forced to endure useless programs and detoxifications before eventually succumbing again.

This is the pattern that can’t be broken. This is the fact that can’t be denied.

Addiction — you know — is an illness with no proven relief. And you assume that there is no reason then to even try to combat it. Nothing can be done and nothing can be earned.

This belief is common among users. It is also, however, incorrect.

While none can deny that drug abuse is a disease (affecting both mind and body, causing chemical imbalances and manipulating the central nervous system), none should also deny the need for treatment. The severity of addiction is not an excuse to leave it unaided. It is instead a demand for vigilance — with rehabilitation programs sought and counseling secured.

The all too tragic myth of this disability is that nothing can be done to defeat it. Such defeat is relative, however, and depends on the individual: therapy, medication, family support and a complete detox can all offer great success. And yet too often are these methods denied — with only an estimated eight percent of addicts even attempting treatment (with those numbers decreasing as relapses occur).

What all individuals must understand is that no disease is to be ignored — even one caused by avoidable factors. Addiction can no longer be deemed impossible to counter. It must instead be recognized as a problem in need of a solution…. with that solution being recognized as rehab.

Don’t assume it’s futile to attempt healing. Recognize instead that it’s vital to try.

There is no such thing as equality — at least not when drugs are involved. Too often is addiction assumed to be a myth, a product of weak control and weaker restraint. Individuals cite cases of users who have sampled substances for years and have managed still to maintain their lives. This is proof, they believe, of the absurdity of a disease.

That disease exists, however — and it affects 22 million Americans each year, appearing due to a variety of factors that are undeniable (and even sometimes unavoidable). While it is true that some individuals may be able to resist dependence, the majority will not. And the reasons are clear:

One: Genetics. Nothing defines a life more than the ones that came before it. Genetics offers explanations into all worries — including addiction. Those who have family histories filled to substance abuse and drug concerns are more than three times as likely to succumb to problems themselves. Their bodies are predisposed to compulsions and they will develop tolerances far more quickly.

Two: Childhood Experiences. Children are shaped by mimicry. They learn through shadowing their families, watching every gesture, every action. This is how they gain their behaviors; and often those behaviors can include substance abuse. Those who were exposed to drugs early in life are 50 percent more likely to become reliant on them in adulthood: just because the pattern was taught to be normal.

Three: Longevity. Addiction is not an instant disease. It demands time and consistency, with tolerance developing over extended periods. Those who use drugs frequently therefore are more likely to develop a need for them. The chances of becoming dependent on substances is increased dramatically with each attempt.

Never assume that addiction can be denied. The statistics are not favorable and will instead only support compulsions. Understand the risks that can heighten chances and combat them then through abstinence.

You are defined by rules. Life is a collection of standards and certainties, the boundaries that are created in your mind. There are limitations you create; there are duties you must answer; and nothing can sway you from that — even drugs. You are far too disciplined to succumb to the worries of abuse or addiction. No substances can control you. You instead will control all of them, using them as you wish and defying the statistics. And, when you want to stop, you… will. There’s no doubt of that. There is only the assurance of your own willpower, the good sense you know you possess.

That good sense is not enough to save you from disease, however.

Justification is what drives many addicts. They assume that they will be able to shape their bodies to their needs, rather than the needs of drugs. They believe that they can end their usage whenever they choose — and then simply choose not to.

The truth is less sympathetic, however. Addiction cannot be undone by simple force of will. Individuals cannot overcome the effects of drugs on their minds and bodies — if only because the effects have left those individuals too altered to make rational decisions.  Compulsion becomes the only thought worth having and the notion of quitting is disregarded.

It is imperative therefore that all addicts — including you — recognize the need for more than mere willpower. Don’t assume you can overcome a problem by yourself. You can’t. This is proven in the 92 percent of users who refuse to receive treatment each year (none of whom are able to then be cured). Don’t become a victim to statistics. Choose instead to seek help and counter a disease.

You may be defined to rules but addiction will change those rules completely. Defend against it with rehabilitation.