One of the long-standing myths about recovering from drug and alcohol addiction is that one has to hit rock bottom first. According to Medical University of South Carolina psychiatry professor, Dr. Kathleen Brady, “Addicts and alcoholics are more likely to recover if they still have a job, if they still have a spouse, if their family still lets them in the door.”

Brady says that willpower and morality has nothing to do with the recovery process. She also states that this country tends to criminalize addiction by sending people to prison for taking illicit substances rather than putting them in rehab.

Some of this has changed in the last couple of years, thanks to new technology. Because of the advent of ankle bracelets that monitor drug and alcohol use, this has kept many people in their homes and jobs rather than in prison. More states and counties, however, need to avail themselves of this new technology in order to give addicts the best chances of recovery.