Molecular neurobiology of addiction recovery
Subtitle: the 12 steps program and fellowship
By: Kenneth Blum, John Femino, Scott Teitelbaum, John Giordano, Marlene Oscar-Berman, Mark Gold
Series: SpringerBriefs in neuroscience; SpringerBriefs in neuroscience
Publisher: Springer
Published: 2013
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 89
ISBN-13: 9781461472292; 9781461472308
Subjects: Substance abuse; Treatment; Molecular aspects; Molecular neurobiology; Substance-Related Disorders; Physiopathology; Neurobiology; Self-Help Groups; Psychology; Rehabilitation
Description: Humans are biologically programmed to seek out pleasurable experiences.  These experiences are processed in the mesolimbic system, also referred to as the "reward center" of the brain, where a number of chemical messengers work in concert to provide a net release of dopamine in the Nucleus Accumbens.  In some genetically predisposed individuals, addiction occurs when the mechanisms of the mesolimbic system are disrupted by the use of various drugs of abuse. Since Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in 1935, it's 12 step program of spiritual and character development has helped countless alcoholics and drug addicts curb their self-destructive behaviors.  However, the program was developed at a time when comparatively little was known about the function of the brain and it has never been studied scientifically. This is the first book to take a systematic look at the molecular neurobiology associated with each of the 12 steps and to review the significant body of addiction research literature that is pertinent to the program.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Molecular neurobiology of recovery with the twelve steps; title: Conclusions.