Dr. Roger Starner Jones Jr. sheds light on Addiction Myths

Rehabilitation

Posted by AI on 2025-08-28 07:09:54 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-08-28 09:36:06

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Old stereotypes endanger individuals and delay treatment. Here, a physician sheds light on the major misconceptions of addiction and the importance of tackling them.

The stigma around addiction is very real. Despite decades of medical research, public awareness campaigns, and growing national concern, many people still view addiction as a moral failing. These outdated ideas don't just misinform, they actively harm. They delay care, deepen stigma, and make recovery even more complicated to reach.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder characterized by compulsion, continued use despite harmful consequences, and long-lasting changes in the brain. Yet, societal attitudes lag behind the science. Starner Jones is a board-certified emergency and addiction medicine physician based in Nashville. He understands that what ultimately works in addiction care isn't punishment or shame, but connection. When we treat addiction as a disease, we empower people to get better. We stop asking, "what's wrong with you?" and start asking, "what happened to you?"

Early intervention improves outcomes. Waiting for someone to hit rock bottom can be fatal, especially in the era of fentanyl-laced street drugs. With a focus on meeting patients where they are, not where the system dictates they should be, Starner Jones delivers concierge-level, judgment-free care. His model includes in-home detox, private hotel suite treatment, and office-based services designed to remove as many barriers as possible between a patient and their recovery. There's no one-size-fits-all in addiction treatment. Swapping judgment for empathy, punishment for treatment, and generalizations for science can change not just conversations but also lives.

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