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Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment & Substance Abuse Rehab
Although the debate over addiction continues, there is currently hard evidence demonstrating that the brains of chemically dependent persons function differently than the brains of individuals who are not addicted to psychoactive substances. As human beings we are, of course, much more than our neurophysiology, and for this reason the most effective drug and alcohol rehabs attend to not only individual differences, but also to the needs of the whole person: body, mind, social/cultural, and spiritual. The best drug and alcohol treatment programs, in other words, are based on a Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual model of addiction. The first order of business, however, is to safely detox or withdraw the addicted individual off drugs and alcohol, and then to provide the person with addiction education, new stress coping skills and recovery tools.
To fully appreciate the necessity for the addicted individual of drug and alcohol rehab, an explanation of why addiction is a serious medical condition and what happens in the brain of an alcoholic or addict is in order. In his book titled Addiction and its accompanying CDs on “Disease” and “The First Year of Recovery”, Kevin McCauley, M.D., discusses how addiction and the addicted individual’s persistent use of mind/mood altering substances, seemingly caused by a behavior that is a choice, actually arises from very real differences in the brains of addicted individuals. In explaining these differences, Dr. McCauley additionally proves that addiction fits a causal model of medicine. Before this model, doctors simply chased down symptoms.
The causal model has three essential components: Organ; defect; symptoms. When doctors treat their patients, they look for what organ is involved, what the defect in that organ is, and the resulting symptoms. Doctors have long been familiar with the symptoms (bad behavior) of alcoholism and drug addiction, but they were baffled by what organ was involved and what the defect entailed. Addiction did not fit neatly into a causal model, and as a result, many doctors believed these patients had weak morals or an addictive personality and they washed their hands of their alcoholic and drug addicted patients.
Thanks to advances in neuroscience and brain- imaging technology, we now know that with addiction the organ involved is the brain. Although different regions of the brain are involved, the area of primary importance is the midbrain. This holds true for any type of addiction: drug addiction, alcoholism, and addictions to behaviors (gambling, compulsive shopping or spending, binge-eating and Bulimia, sex and pornography, codependency, internet and video games). In addition to knowing the organ involved (the midbrain), we also understand the defect: a “stress-induced hedonic dysregulation” (Kevin McCauley, M.D.). The all too familiar symptoms of addiction include: loss of control, cravings, and persistent use (or engagement in the behavior) despite negative consequences.
The implications of this knowledge, that addictive behavior is related to chemical imbalances and differences in brain functioning, are far reaching. As persons with a legitimate medical condition, alcoholics and addicts will be viewed with equal compassion and afforded the same rights to treatment as any other patient with an illness (Diabetes, hypertension, Asthma, etc.). Moreover, maybe some of the thousands of people in the U.S. who are serving jail time for alcohol and drug related crimes will finally receive the kind of “rehabilitation” they need and deserve.
Punishment, needless to say, does not work. Here is the reason why. The midbrain is the unconscious, primitive, survival brain. The hedonic system, in the midbrain, rewards behaviors necessary for survival. Behaviors such as eating, drinking water, killing/defending and mating (versus “making love” which happens in the frontal cortex) are rewarded with dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a critical role in our construct of pleasure. Drugs and alcohol, as well as addictions to behaviors, cause much larger releases of dopamine (more than the brain was meant to handle), causing them to be tagged with survival salience. In other words, alcohol and drugs become “necessary” to survival. In fact, they go to the very top of the survival hierarchy, surpassing in importance other survival behaviors such as eating, killing/defending, and mating.
Here is one more very important piece of information concerning drug and alcohol addiction. When the addicted individual enters a craving state, there is a lot more happening than just an overwhelming urge to use alcohol or drugs. When the addict or alcoholic is under stress and enters a craving state, the midbrain “turns off” certain areas of the frontal cortex. Why? The frontal cortex is the thinking, decent, moral, values, law-abiding, emotional attachment, spiritual, choice brain. The midbrain does not allow morals, values, reasoning and love to interfere with survival. Therefore, it usurps control from the frontal cortex, the higher, seat-of-the-self-brain. Remember, in a non-addict’s brain, the frontal cortex (the authentic self) exerts control over the midbrain. In the throngs of their addiction, chemically dependent individuals are truly not themselves. By now you probably have a better understanding about how difficult, if not impossible, it is for the addict to stop using or engaging in addictive behavior without help. For this reason, residential drug and alcohol rehab is the essential first step. Remember, an effective treatment program or drug and alcohol rehab must include doctors and clinicians with a thorough understanding of addiction as well as empirically based treatment approaches and methods. In addition, a good drug and alcohol rehab meets the individuals’ needs and attends to the whole person.
A thirty day drug and alcohol rehab is only the first step. Because the brain continues to undergo a biological readjustment in early abstinence, the recovering individual is especially vulnerable to relapse during the first year of sobriety. The longer the person can remain in a safe and supportive environment, the greater the chance that the recovering individual will attain that monumental one year of continued sobriety. Most addiction professionals agree that following treatment, the recovering person is best served by transitioning into a sober living environment.
Please don’t wait. If you are a family member or friend of an addicted individual, help your loved-one be the person that you know he or she is. And if you are someone suffering from an addiction, precious time is wasting. Reclaim your power and your integrity. Call an addiction treatment program now, and be the person you are meant to be, the true you!
Program Options and Activities:
- Individual Psychotherapy
- Family Therapy
- Process Group
- Spiritual Counseling
- Yoga
- Meditation Classes
- Personal Physical Trainer
- Art Classes (painting, sculpture and mosaics)
- Cooking Classes
- Music and Voice Lessons
- Massage Therapy
- Accupuncture
- Hiking
- Horseback Riding
- A variety of ongoing lectures and workshops offered through the Krotona Institute, Krishnamurti Foundation, Meditation Mount and The Ojai Healing Circle.
- All therapies and activities take place either at our downtown office or off property.
Testimonial Excerpts
"Serenity Corner provided me with a peaceful sanctuary at which to complete my release from alcoholism. My personal recovery plan along with the excellent physical fitness facilities and the serene beauty of the Ojai Valley created the perfect transition for me."
- Anonymous
As a financial executive, I was able to continue working by taking advantage of the efficient facilities offered, including high speed wireless internet, toll-free telephone/fax services, computers, printer and copier. My private suite included enough space to comfortably carry on with my outside business in complete privacy, with a gorgeous sunrise view of the Topa Topa mountains.
- East Coast Executive
