Does the Brain Ever Get Back to Normal?

After someone has been an addict, does his or her brain ever normalize? This is one of the most important questions in the field. Some believe that at least some of the changes caused by drugs last forever, which if true, will impact treatment. Although evidence is still accumulating, there are some findings that we can examine. Twelve-step programs such as those used by Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous assume that addicts have a chronic disease and chronic vulnerability. Using this assumption, these programs suggest that addiction is never cured, but can be treated by avoiding drugs. This is perhaps the safest approach to treatment. These programs have an effective track record with effective procedures. Perhaps some brains ca....