How Treatment Heals the Brain Part 1 by Steven East

How Treatment Heals the Brain

Lack of understanding of how the disease of addiction changes the brain and how addiction treatment techniques reverse those changes is a real and serious problem. I have asked countless people coming back from a relapse what they think contributed to it. Every time I get the same answer; they just could not come to believe how the things they were instructed to do would ever help them to stay clean and sober. Unfortunately, this inability on their part to accept that if they did the things that others did to stop drinking and using those same things would inevitably enable them to do the same.

Willingness Does Not Always Equal Success

Also unfortunate are those who would pronounce this lot unwilling to do whatever it takes or just plain not "done" [with drinking and drugging] yet. I believe that almost every addict and alcoholic who makes the decision, whether coerced or not, to come into treatment wants to stay clean and sober. I also believe that they are all "done," as the cliché goes. What distorts this observation is that addicts and alcoholics that were able understand how the process will benefit them have more success than those who do not. This is often confused with “willingness”, being "done”, or as some would say “beat up enough.” If this is true then the success rates would be significantly higher than they are today.

Beat Up Enough for Ten People

I have worked with people in recovery with more willingness and who were beat up enough to make ten people willing to do whatever it takes. This does not guarantee long term sobriety.They tried to stop drinking and using, but those factors availed them little. In comparison, when they focused on understanding how the groups, meetings, lectures, activities, working steps with a sponsor, being of service, and even doing chores all individually contributed to reversing the damage to their brains the result fostered a motivation and willingness that the big book of Alcoholics Anonymous speaks of as being absolutely crucial if long term sobriety is to happen.

The Seriousness of the Disease

 The seriousness of this disease sometimes is clouded by the drama and the carefree banter going on in the rooms of AA (or in a process group at any one treatment center). Make no mistake - I have buried over nine friends because they could not stay clean and sober. I have one friend doing twenty years in San Quentin prison and another doing twelve at Corcoran (the same prison Charles Manson is located in). Just imagine how my friend couldn't "get" this thing and he ended up with Charlie Manson for twelve years. The current statistics state that 19 % of people that simply go to meetings and 28 % that go in to a reputable treatment program will stay clean and sober for at least one year. I am here to tell that every one that I have met that has a complete understanding of how treatment heals the brain has never relapsed.

The Importance of Understanding

This article seeks to convince you of the importance of understanding how treatment reverses damage inflicted by drugs and alcohol on the brain. I believe that fully comprehending how the various activities in the schedules of someone in treatment actually accelerates their brains healing process is crucial to fostering willingness and in turn reduces craving, minimizes the effects of stress, resentments, and enables them to start enjoying life again much sooner due to their participation.                         

Hedonic Set point Theory

I am going to present to you some of the most recent research available that builds on Kevin McCauley’s mid brain / dopamine / anhedonia / hedonic set point theory. I will first explain how the neurons of an addict or alcoholic have been damaged and which neurological components are involved. I will then explore how other diseases such Parkinson’s and Schizophrenia have damage to similar components. I will then show how the brain of someone with ten years clean and sober is different than that of some one still using or in early recovery.

Finally, I will then show how the brain of someone in early recovery that is immersed in a treatment program has been significantly restored to normal than that of some one who is simply not using with out such a program. It is my goal to make you aware of the benefits your participation in all the functions that treatment has provided for you. These benefits are nothing less than a productive and happy life.    

The neurons of an addict or alcoholic are damaged; that is why the addict feels discontent.

 Read Part II of Steven East's Article: How Treatment Heals the Brain