Addiction is defined as out-of-control substance use and the inability to stop. However, just because we are unable to stop today does not mean that we will be unable to control or stop our use tomorrow. THE HUMAN BRAIN IS NOT STATIC. The erroneous assumption that the human brain is static with regard to all things except substance use has led to unlimited nonsense in the world of substance use treatment. Our brains/minds change as we get older and more mature and when we reach a certain point we may decide to quit a problematic behavior because we have out grown it. According to the NIAAA more than half of people with alcohol dependence recover on their own without AA or alcoholism treatment.
http://www.spectrum.niaaa.nih.gov/features/alcoholism.aspx
There are more ex-smokers today than current smokers and the vast majority have quit on their own. The research also suggests that the majority of heroin addicts stop on their own when they are ready.
Substance use changes the brain, but so does everything else from prayer and meditation
to driving a taxi cab in London
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/677048.stm
The normal outcome of addiction is recovery without treatment. The goal of treatment should be to speed natural recovery
Copyright © 2012, The HAMS Harm Reduction Network
