Regions within the brain that link together forming brain circuitry that drive chronic psychoactive substance abuse

For decades, rehab programs, 12-step programs, and substance abuse counselors have promoted the notion that addiction is caused by a brain disease, leaving a person with no choice, helpless to the disease that is causing his or her addiction.  This concept of a brain disease implies that there is a separation between one's brain and one's mind.

The good news is that current neuroscience research finds that chronic use of a psychoactive substance creates circuits within the brain that connect various brain regions that over time create a craving for continued use of the substance(s) - alcohol, cannabis, neurostimulants, benzodiazepines/sleep medications, opioids, or tobacco/nicotine.  Since your brain produces a conscious perception of your substance abuse problem in your mind, problems associated with substance abuse can be reversed with a combination of psychotherapy techniques and harm reduction interventions. These techniques help change what you think about substance abuse and increase motivation to take actions for a successful recovery.  Psychotherapy techniques include cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, motivational interviewing, rational emotive therapy, dialectical therapy, existential therapy, and moderate exercise.

Dr. Youdin will teach you how to combine techniques from these different psychotherapies that will enable new positive circuitry to form in your brain initiating a process that will lead you to a sustained, successful recovery.  By mastering these techniques you will achieve a state of empowerment over your life rather than feeling helpless to your so-called disease.

Some people experience anxiety or depression resulting from chronic substance abuse.  These circumstances will be addressed and solved as part of your journey to recovery.  For those in need of harm reduction interventions such as Suboxone therapy, a referral to a psychiatrist will be made to manage any medication needs.