Study Validates the Importance of Eliminating Drug Cravings When Fighting Addiction

A recent study from Carnegie Mellon University underscored the vital role that cravings play in keeping an addicted person reaching for that next shot, snort or dose of drugs. Researchers worked with heroin addicts who were being treated with buprenorphine, an opiate-like drug that prevents withdrawal symptoms and cravings from setting in. The addicts were offered either cash or an additional dose of buprenorphine to be given at a later time. When addicts were already craving their dose of the drug, they were twice as likely to choose the drug over the money.

Researchers concluded that addicts were not fully able to comprehend the power that cravings would have over them at a later time, if they were not suffering from those cravings at the moment they made their choices. They further hypothesized that unaddicted people will experiment with drugs because they can’t comprehend the intensity of cravings that will occur if they become addicted. Nor can they imagine that terrible things they would do to satisfy that craving.

“This supports what the Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers have been stating for years, that one must overcome the cravings, guilt and depression of addiction before they can fully recover,” said Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon Arrowhead is one of the country’s leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma.

Mr. Hallmark went on to explain that when drugs are processed by the liver, they leave behind by-products called metabolites. While some of these metabolites leave the body through sweat and urine, some remains in the body and bonds with fat cells. The secret to eliminating these cravings lies in a thorough detoxification process that enables the body to flush out metabolites and other toxins. “The Narconon drug rehabilitation program uses a dry-heat sauna along with gentle exercise and a nutritional program to flush metabolites out of the body,” added Mr. Hallmark. “This is a critical part of the recovery process at our center and is a big reason that seven out of ten of our graduates live drug-free lives after graduation.”

One of Narconon’s recent graduates had this to say when he completed this phase of the program: “The sauna program got rid of all cravings or even thoughts of drugs and most of all it has given me the one thing I wanted the most: the ability to say no!  Thank you Narconon and thank you to everyone who helped me accomplish all these things.”  J.G.

To find immediate help for someone who is having a problem with any kind of drug or alcohol, contact Narconon’s free addiction consultation and referral helpline at 1-800-468-6933 or visit their website at http://www.stopaddiction.com/. The Narconon program was founded in 1966 by William Benitez in Arizona State prison, and is based on the humanitarian works of L. Ron Hubbard. In more than 80 centers around the world, Narconon programs restore drug and alcohol abusers and addicts to a clean and sober lifestyle.