| Substance use Fact vs. Myth |
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Using drugs will lead to a SUD.
MYTH. Only 10-30% of PWUD have an SUD. Majority of PWUD will never develop an SUD.
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People who use drugs don’t care about their safety.
Myth. PWUD are generally very conscientious about using safely and reducing harms to themselves and others.
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Drug suppliers (dealers) don’t care if it kills their consumers.
Myth. Most dealers aren’t trying to become murderers. Many use themselves.
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Substances like marijuana are fine and users are simple users; substances like opioids and meth are problematic and users are chaotic users/must have an SUD.
Myth. Any substance (food, candy, etc.) misuse can be problematic if the use is intended to avoid or distort reality.
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Doctors created the opioid epidemic by overprescribing; the solution is to crack down on prescribers.
The United States has seen a steady decrease in opioid prescribing rates (excluding Opioid Agonist Therapy (OAT) medications) since 2012, demonstrating the complexities and exacerbating harm that criminalization of substance use places on society.
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