Addiction

Addiction is a term that is top-of-mind. Unfortunately, very few people understand the disease of addiction or what to do when a loved one is suffering. Dr. Harry and his team have dedicated their lives to serving individuals and their families as they navigate addiction treatment and supportive aftercare programs.  Years of practice, research, success and failures have led to the development of Dr. Harry’s unique addiction treatment model.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s Public Policy Statement on the definition of addiction:  Addiction is a primary, chronic disease of brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry. Dysfunction in these circuits leads to characteristic biological, psychological, social and spiritual manifestations. This is reflected in an individual pathologically pursuing reward and/or relief by substance use and other behaviors.

Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response. Like other chronic diseases, addiction often involves cycles of relapse and remission. Without treatment or engagement in recovery activities, addiction is progressive and can result in disability or premature death.

Addiction is a chronic, organic, and fatal disease of the brain, responsible for untold damage to families, individual lives and the economy. Furthermore, as Baby Boomers become the next crop of seniors with time on their hands and the opioid epidemic expands, the disease will become even more prevalent. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 23.5 million people aged 12 or older—9.3 percent of that population—needed treatment for an illicit drug or alcohol abuse problem in 2009, but only 2.6 million, or 11.2 percent, of those who needed treatment received it at a specialty facility. That tells us that, likely, about 20 million people in the United States are walking around with addiction and not getting help for it.

The purpose of Dr. Harry’s work is to take you from despair to hope as you come to understand the healing phases of the disease and to increase your family’s and loved ones’ understanding of alcoholism and other drug addictions. Through innovative and creative approaches the team analyzes addiction and mental health issues and provides a solution.