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The SCIENCE BEHIND ADDICTION
Addiction is a disease. Once an individual is addicted to a substance brain function and neural pathways are altered. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA 284:1689, 2000) very few people can stop using and have long lasting recovery and for that reason patients typically require long term or repeated episodes of treatment. Research indicates that most individuals need at least 3 months of treatment and that the best outcomes occur with longer durations of treatment. This extended time is required because it is not just a matter of behavior modification but also time is required to allow the brain to have time to heal and chemically balance itself which may take up to 12-18 months depending on the type of substance involved and the duration of use. The part of the brain that shows significant impairment from substance use is the frontal lobe which is critical to judgment, decision making, learning, memory and behavior control which seriously impairs the ability to exert self-control. (Facing Addiction: The Surgeon General’s Report on Alcohol, Drugs and Health).
Why Sober Living?
Research shows that 60% of those who go through treatment relapse and many may go through treatment several times. This is in part driven by the lack of funds to stay in treatment for more than 30 days. A 30 day treatment is only the first step to recovery. The Cyril Recovery Center allows for a supportive living environment, free from the pressures of returning home to face the people, places and things that contributed to the addiction. It allows a transition period to fully recover with the accountability of peers along with individual, group and family counseling opportunities. This time allows the brain to heal and provides a community environment to help deal with the impact addiction has had on your brain and your ability to exert self-control.