DRUGS REDUCE RESISTANCE
Chronic exposure to illicit drugs has been shown to degrade signaling in the part of the human brain that affects impulses.
Evidence from psychology and brain imaging shows that drugs like heroin weaken the brains reflective system and an individual’s resistance to impulsive action.
Drug addicts have an internal struggle between an impulsive system which urges drug taking and the reflective system which uses past bad experiences urging drug abstinence.
(Source: Nature Neuroscience 8 (11), pages 1458-1463)
The Drug Advisory Council of Australia comments-
These new studies are significant to illicit drug use because the loss of willpower is impacted by the effect of an illicit drug like heroin on the brains capacity to resist.
This information shows that only abstinence from drug use can be effective in getting drug addicts off drug use.
By removing the impact of illicit drugs on the human brain by effective detoxification to a drug free state can rehabilitation be successful.
Australia NEEDS a comprehensive and effective drug detoxification and rehabilitation system to be set up that acknowledges that illicit drugs reduce willpower.
Illicit drug rehabilitation must get addict’s drug free to be TRULY effective.
What works in rehabilitation is to get Australians off illicit drug use NOT to maintain them on maintenance programs causing further health and costs to addicted users.
More detoxification & rehabilitation that gets illicit drug users drug free.
Court ordered and supervised detoxification & rehabilitation.
Less illicit drug users, drug pushers and drug related crimes.
22/2008