The ultimate aim of the twelve steps is for members to experience a spiritual awakening.

It is claimed that such an experience is necessary for the individual to truly experience freedom from addiction. Talk of ‘spiritual experience’ can conjure up images of visitation by angels, but the meaning here is more subtle. It can happen slowly over many years and just implies that the individual has been able to break away from addiction and rebuild their lives.

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The Search for Spirituality

If you wish to be really wholesome . . . . If you desire to be totally integrated in body and spirit . . . If you want to be the kind of person who can cope with whatever challenges come your way . . . .

Addiction Books For relaxation When 50 Shades of Grey doesn’t cut it.

The Science of Addiction: From Neurobiology to Treatment Carlton K. Erickson 312 pages Publisher: W. W. Norton and Company (2007) Amazon Overview: Neuroscience is clarifying the causes of compulsive alcohol and drug use––while also shedding light on what addiction is, what it is not, and how it can best be treated––in exciting and innovative ways. Current neurobiological research complements and enhances the approaches to addiction traditionally taken in social work and psychology. However, this important research is generally not presented in a forthright, jargon-free way that clearly illustrates its relevance to addiction professionals. In The Science of Addiction, Carlton K. Erickson presents a comprehensive overview of the roles that brain function and genetics play in addiction. The Addiction Solution: Unraveling the Mysteries of Addiction through Cutting-Edge Brain Science David Kipper and Steven Whitney 304 pages Publisher: Rodale Books (2010) ...

Food Can Be Addictive, Says Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse

Can food really be as addictive as drugs? In an impassioned lecture at Rockefeller University on Wednesday, Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, made the case that the answer is yes and that understanding the commonalities between food and drug addictions could offer insights into all types of compulsive behavior. Volkow began by acknowledging that the idea is controversial. “This is a concept that is rejected by many people,” she said. “It has polarized the [addictions] field.” Many experts dismiss food as an addictive substance because it doesn’t lead to most people behaving like addicts — compulsively seeking food despite negative consequences. So, the reasoning goes, food can’t be as addictive as a drug like crack cocaine. What that fails to recognize, however, is that crack cocaine itself isn’t as addictive as is commonly believed. “If you look at people who take drugs, the majority are not addic...

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