Self-control impulse impaired in addicts’ brains, possibly inherited

A study, appearing in Science Mag, says that there seems to be a presence of abnormalities in the brain of addicts that regulate self-control mechanisms.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom studied brain scans of 50 pairs of siblings, one of each pair being a cocaine addict and the other with no history of substance abuse.

The study revealed that the fibers, which connect various parts of the brain, were less efficient than those found in the scans of typical individuals. These fiber connections are responsible for sending messages to an individual to “stop” a certain behavior. The inefficiency noted is directly related to how long it took before the individual responded to the “stop” signals. Interestingly, both siblings took longer to respond to the stop signals, indicating less self-control and, more importantly, indicating a possible strong hereditary connection to addiction.

“The self-control aspect of addiction is often studied,” begins a spokesperson for Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center. “However, research on the correlation between self-control and heredity hasn’t been studied nearly as much. The link between impulse control and genetic influences is certainly a study whose time is coming. The important thing that we must remember is that, even if future studies indicate a direct genetic connection to the predisposition of an individual to become addicted, it doesn’t mean that the person must become an addict. Personal choice via awareness does play an important role.”

The ever-evolving field of addiction medicine may, at some point, develop a panacea for substance abuse and drug addiction. Until that time, however, effective drug rehab is a must for those addicted individuals who want to recover from the catastrophic effects of addiction.

If you believe that that a loved one has an issue with drugs or alcohol, Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center can help you with its broad range of professional intervention services.

Mountainside’s comprehensive family care program will give you the tools necessary to rebuild the bonds of your family to what they once were. Their unique individualized recovery program is recognized as one of the most comprehensive and individualized in the treatment field.

Mountainside Drug Rehab and Alcohol Treatment Center is a modern drug rehab facility that is skilled in serving a variety of clients with various addictions and in varying stages of addiction. The caring, compassionate team is made up of licensed and certified social workers and counselors who have extensive experience and specialty in the addiction treatment field. In addition, the staff includes a Nurse Practitioner, as well as a Registered Nurse, both of whom also have specializations and experience within the field of addiction treatment and alcohol rehab.

Mountainside also provides services for those individuals who come to them with dual diagnoses and require the services of a Psychiatrist to help conquer the unique challenges that dual diagnosis brings.

For the past 13 years, Mountainside has established itself as an innovator within the addiction treatment field, and the treatment modalities Mountainside utilizes are regarded as among the most cutting-edge approaches in helping individuals to get, and to remain, sober. As a result of their unique, innovative approaches to addiction treatment, Mountainside has become the model for the addiction treatment field.

The program, along with its professional addiction treatment team, have earned national recognition and resulted in Mountainside being invited to Washington by the White House to meet with the White House Drug Czar, John P. Walters, for an in-depth meeting on what makes its program so successful. These accolades did not go unnoticed within the addiction treatment field and resulted in the adoption by many throughout the country of a more holistic approach to drug addiction treatment.

Via EPR Network
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