Normal Brain Prolonged Drug Use Prolonged Alcohol Use
(Courtesy of Amen Clinics)
Addiction is a chronic brain disease.
The long term effects of substance use and even long term untreated depression can reduce frontal lobe functioning in the human brain. The frontal lobes are where planning, executive functions, emotion management, and reasoning occurs – AND this is the area of the brain that is most needed for recovery activities.
There is increasing evidence of brain recovery from certain kinds of addiction. Long term heavy alcohol use results in some permanent damage and alcohol is perhaps the most harmful drug to the central nervous system (CNS). However, much of the damage done by alcohol use can be either restored or the brain can develop compensations for damaged areas. Even with methamphetamine, there is evidence of correcting earlier CNS damage. However, fundamental neurochemical “imbalances” that were there before the addiction, may still need attention.
There is no cure for addiction, but there is help.
Call us today at 1.866.399.HOPE (4673) to schedule a confidential assessment and get the brain you want today.
