Addiction can no longer be rationalized as a social or moral problem.
Science has illustrated beyond reasonable doubt that addiction is in
fact a brain disease. Like other illnesses, addiction has biologic,
psychologic, social, spiritual and nutritional elements.
Subsequently, treatment for addiction must include biologic, psychologic, social, spiritual and nutritional elements.
Methamphetamine dependence is a major problem locally in Southern California, Nationally and Internationally. The demographic evidence of this scourge as well as the social, economic, environmental and medical damage done by methamphetamine will be reviewed.
As a family medicine physician with a specialty in addiction medicine and as a clinical research physician, I have utilized numerous modalities to help those attempting to recover from methamphetamine dependence.
No matter what someone’s drug problem is like, in order to have the best possible chance for long term recovery from addictive disease, individuals need to address the biologic, psychological, social, spiritual and nutritional factors that affect their illness. Combining interventions in each of these 5 areas is essential to most effectively treat substance dependence. It will be hard, but it can be done. More importantly, it can be done by YOU!
Dr. Torrington is a board certified Family Medicine doctor with a specialty in Addiction Medicine, certified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
