We now know that 21.5 million American adults (aged 12 and older) battle with a substance use disorder. This chronic disease affects 1 in 12 people. Recent drug relapse statistics show that more than 85% of individuals relapse and return to drug and/or alcohol use within the year following traditional treatments. Researchers estimate that more than two-thirds of individuals in recovery relapse within weeks to months of beginning addiction treatment. Most medical professionals in the addiction field agree that addiction is a “brain-based disease.”

So how can we treat the brain? Addressing only behavior is not enough – you have to heal and repair the brain. Cravings create relapse, and there is an underlying physiology behind the despair and discomfort associated with early recovery. This month we learned from Dr. Nancy White what the Advanced Recovery Team at Unique MindCare is doing to treat and prevent relapse.

Dr. Nancy White holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and is licensed in Texas as a Psychologist, Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an Advanced Addictions Counselor (AAC). Dr. White is recognized as a pioneer in the field of Applied Neuroscience, serving as a Consulting Editor of the Journal of Neurotherapy and contributing author to two college level textbooks. She is a frequent speaker at professional conferences internationally, and has conducted workshops and trainings for healthcare professionals both in the U.S. and abroad.

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Having a hard time passing the plate of donuts at the office? Do you say to yourself, “Maybe I’ll have just one” only to find yourself eating your third? Maybe it’s chocolate – you simply can’t give it up! You are not alone! Scientists have found that sugar is addictive and stimulates the same pleasure centers of the brain as cocaine or heroin. Just like those hard-core drugs, getting off sugar leads to withdrawal and more cravings.

In this month's meeting, Amy Rawls shared with us how she identifies sugar addiction and what we can do to break the vicious cycle.

Amy Rawls MS, RD, LD, is a board certified registered dietitian, certified INFMT therapist, and therapeutic lifestyle healthcare practitioner. She obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Dietetics from Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, with a dietetic residency performed through Lamar University. Amy has almost ten years of experience applying functional nutrition practices to an array of metabolic clinical states and is currently Manager of Clinical Services for Transformation Enzyme Corporation.

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