The human body has a tendency to store the remnants of toxins, called metabolites, in fatty tissue.
Fatty tissue resides in many places on the human body, and is recycled very infrequently. This recycling, sometimes called “turnover” is common to all fatty tissues. While there are many types of fatty tissues in the body, they all have one thing in common – toxins remain trapped in them for years. This is one of the problems that needs to be considered when using drug rehab to get the addict back to their lives. When these fatty tissues are turned over, all the toxins that they held are reintroduced back into the body of the user. This causes cravings, which can make even the most fortuitous drug addict relapse after completing other drug rehab programs. The former drug addict experiences this as a what is commonly called a “flashback”. While this is most common in the first few months after drug rehab, it can happen for years – even decades – after the last use of the drug.
When the addicted individual tries to stop using for the first time, there are cells in the brain which notice the significantly decreased amounts of the chemicals. Withdrawal does not completely alleviate the needs that the brain perceives for more of the drug. This craving has such power that it is often the source of the motivation to relapse. This causes the vicious cycle of quitting and relapse.
A problem arises if the fatty tissues have not been cleansed of the remnants of drugs and alcohol toxins. After even years the toxins, if present, will be released back into the blood stream, causing the body to react as if the addict had just taken the drugs again. This leads to an increase in the perceived need of the brain for the intoxicant, and hence a substantial craving. Again, this often leads to relapse, even after having been clean for years.
There are two major factors in the drug addicts inability to stop using. The first is that they crave the drug or alcohol both physically and emotionally or mentally. This is caused by the remnants of the intoxicants that are left in the fatty tissues as described above. The other important factor is that there are lifestyle changes that are made when one is an addict that make the pattern of behavior they are leading in their drug addicted state easier to manage. There is a personality that is created biochemically from the use of drugs and alcohol.
If not treated, these causes will continue to be carried with the drug addict or alcoholic for years, possibly the rest of their lives, even if they have quit using drugs or drinking. If not addressed, this can easily, and is frequently, the cause of relapse.
