| When a person is suffering from drug addiction or | | | | and alcohol have switched the brain's normal circuits |
| alcoholism, we understand they experience an | | | | and rewired it self resulting in drug and alcohol use |
| uncontrollable craving for drugs and alcohol. This | | | | becoming the main priority for the individual. |
| craving generally results in the seeking and use of | | | | It is clear to most of us in the field of drug addiction |
| drugs and alcohol which usually interferes with the | | | | and alcoholism that when an individual reaches this |
| individual's functioning within the family and society itself. | | | | stage that the most effective course of treatment lies |
| A core concept evolving over the past decade is that | | | | in entering a drug rehab, addiction treatment center or |
| drug addiction and alcoholism is a disease of the brain | | | | facility for the treatment of alcoholism. To locate such |
| that develops over time as a result of drug abuse and | | | | a facility I urge you to contact a person that |
| alcohol abuse. While many drug rehabs and addiction | | | | specializes in addiction or alcoholism treatment or a |
| treatment centers have long accepted the 12 step | | | | drug rehab in your local area. |
| approach to recovery and believe in the "disease | | | | This brain-based view of drug addiction and alcoholism |
| concept", there still exists conflict regarding the origin of | | | | has generated substantial controversy, particularly |
| the disease itself. | | | | among people who adopt their point of view and leave |
| When a person is suffering from drug addiction or | | | | no more for further speculation. Many people |
| alcoholism, we understand they experience an | | | | erroneously still believe that biological and behavioral |
| uncontrollable craving for drugs and alcohol. This | | | | explanations are alternative or competing ways to |
| craving generally results in the seeking and use of | | | | understand phenomena. Modern science has taught |
| drugs and alcohol which usually interferes with the | | | | that it is much too simplistic to set biology in opposition |
| individual's functioning within the family and society itself. | | | | to behavior or to pit willpower against brain chemistry. |
| In most cases, an illness such as this usually requires | | | | In fact, drug addiction and alcoholism involve |
| treatment in a drug rehab, addiction treatment center | | | | inseparable biological and behavioral components. |
| or alcohol treatment center. | | | | Many people also still believe that drug addiction is |
| In addition to the above, we also recognize the | | | | simply a failure of will or of strength of character This |
| systems within the brain through which drugs modify | | | | could not be further from the truth as research |
| perception, mood, memory, and emotional states. | | | | contradicts that position completely. |
| Furthermore, the habitual use of drugs and alcohol | | | | It is important to state, that the recognition that drug |
| changes brain structure and brain function to the | | | | addiction or alcoholism is a brain disease does not |
| extent that these changes continue to exist even after | | | | mean that the addict is simply a victim. Drug addiction |
| the person is well into recovery. | | | | and alcoholism begin with the voluntary act of using |
| We do not yet understand all of the actual functions, | | | | drugs or alcohol and addicts and alcoholics must |
| but research demonstrates that those long-lasting brain | | | | participate in and take responsibility for their recovery. |
| changes are responsible for the distortions of cognitive | | | | Thus, having this brain disease does not absolve the |
| and emotional functioning that characterize addicts. In | | | | addict of responsibility for his or her behavior, but it |
| particular the compulsion to use drugs that is the | | | | does explain why an addict cannot simply stop using |
| essence of drug addiction. It is almost as if the drugs | | | | drugs using willpower alone. |