# data[].attributes.headline
Drug and alcohol rehab Essex and near Essex

# data[].attributes.subject
Drug and alcohol rehab Essex and near Essex

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Drug/Alcohol Rehab Essex - Including Prices | Rehab 4 Addiction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Professional addiction treatment in Essex, including detox, rehabiliation and free aftercare. Clinically Approved and CQC registered. Let us Help You Today.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
A Harvard Health article
New Insights into the Causes of Addiction

Addiction involves craving for something intensely, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences. Addiction changes the brain, first by subverting the way it registers pleasure and then by corrupting other normal drives such as learning and motivation. Although breaking an addiction is tough, it can be done.

What causes addiction?

The word "addiction" is derived from a Latin term for "enslaved by" or "bound to." Anyone who has struggled to overcome an addiction-or has tried to help someone else to do so-understands why.

Addiction exerts a long and powerful influence on the brain that manifests in three distinct ways: craving for the object of addiction, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences.

For many years, experts believed that only alcohol and powerful drugs could cause addiction. Neuroimaging technologies and more recent research, however, have shown that certain pleasurable activities, such as gambling, shopping, and sex, can also co-opt the brain.

Although a standard U.S. diagnostic manual (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition or DSM-IV) describes multiple addictions, each tied to a specific substance or activity, consensus is emerging that these may represent multiple expressions of a common underlying brain process.

New insights into a common problem

Nobody starts out intending to develop an addiction, but many people get caught in its snare. Consider the latest government statistics:

Nearly 23 million Americans-almost one in 10-are addicted to alcohol or other drugs.

More than two-thirds of people with addiction abuse alcohol.

The top three drugs causing addiction are marijuana, opioid (narcotic) pain relievers, and cocaine.

In the 1930s, when researchers first began to investigate what caused addictive behavior, they believed that people who developed addictions were somehow morally flawed or lacking in willpower. Overcoming addiction, they thought, involved punishing miscreants or, alternately, encouraging them to muster the will to break a habit.

The scientific consensus has changed since then. Today we recognize addiction as a chronic disease that changes both brain structure and function. Just as cardiovascular disease damages the heart and diabetes impairs the pancreas, addiction hijacks the brain. This happens as the brain goes through a series of changes, beginning with recognition of pleasure and ending with a drive toward compulsive behavior.

Pleasure principle

The brain registers all pleasures in the same way, whether they originate with a psychoactive drug, a monetary reward, a sexual encounter, or a satisfying meal. In the brain, pleasure has a distinct signature: the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, a cluster of nerve cells lying underneath the cerebral cortex (see illustration). Dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens is so consistently tied with pleasure that neuroscientists refer to the region as the brain's pleasure center.

All drugs of abuse, from nicotine to heroin, cause a particularly powerful surge of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens. The likelihood that the use of a drug or participation in a rewarding activity will lead to addiction is directly linked to the speed with which it promotes dopamine release, the intensity of that release, and the reliability of that release.

Even taking the same drug through different methods of administration can influence how likely it is to lead to addiction. Smoking a drug or injecting it intravenously, as opposed to swallowing it as a pill, for example, generally produces a faster, stronger dopamine signal and is more likely to lead to drug misuse.
Brain's Reward Center
Addictive drugs provide a shortcut to the brain's reward system by flooding the nucleus accumbens with dopamine. The hippocampus lays down memories of this rapid sense of satisfaction, and the amygdala creates a conditioned response to certain stimuli.

Learning process

Scientists once believed that the experience of pleasure alone was enough to prompt people to continue seeking an addictive substance or activity. But more recent research suggests that the situation is more complicated. Dopamine not only contributes to the experience of pleasure, but also plays a role in learning and memory-two key elements in the transition from liking something to becoming addicted to it.

According to the current theory about addiction, dopamine interacts with another neurotransmitter, glutamate, to take over the brain's system of reward-related learning. This system has an important role in sustaining life because it links activities needed for human survival (such as eating and sex) with pleasure and reward.

The reward circuit in the brain includes areas involved with motivation and memory as well as with pleasure. Addictive substances and behaviors stimulate the same circuit-and then overload it.

Repeated exposure to an addictive substance or behavior causes nerve cells in the nucleus accumbens and the prefrontal cortex (the area of the brain involved in planning and executing tasks) to communicate in a way that couples liking something with wanting it, in turn driving us to go after it. That is, this process motivates us to take action to seek out the source of pleasure.

Do you have addiction?

Determining whether you have addiction isn't completely straightforward. And admitting it isn't easy, largely because of the stigma and shame associated with addiction. But acknowledging the problem is the first step toward recovery.

A "yes" answer to any of the following three questions suggests you might have a problem with addiction and should-at the very least-consult a health care provider for further evaluation and guidance.

Do you use more of the substance or engage in the behavior more often than in the past?

Do you have withdrawal symptoms when you don't have the substance or engage in the behavior?

Have you ever lied to anyone about your use of the substance or extent of your behavior?

Development of tolerance

Over time, the brain adapts in a way that actually makes the sought-after substance or activity less pleasurable.

In nature, rewards usually come only with time and effort. Addictive drugs and behaviors provide a shortcut, flooding the brain with dopamine and other neurotransmitters. Our brains do not have an easy way to withstand the onslaught.

Addictive drugs, for example, can release two to 10 times the amount of dopamine that natural rewards do, and they do it more quickly and more reliably. In a person who becomes addicted, brain receptors become overwhelmed. The brain responds by producing less dopamine or eliminating dopamine receptors-an adaptation similar to turning the volume down on a loudspeaker when noise becomes too loud.

As a result of these adaptations, dopamine has less impact on the brain's reward center. People who develop an addiction typically find that, in time, the desired substance no longer gives them as much pleasure. They have to take more of it to obtain the same dopamine "high" because their brains have adapted-an effect known as tolerance.

Compulsion takes over

At this point, compulsion takes over. The pleasure associated with an addictive drug or behavior subsides-and yet the memory of the desired effect and the need to recreate it (the wanting) persists. It's as though the normal machinery of motivation is no longer functioning.

The learning process mentioned earlier also comes into play. The hippocampus and the amygdala store information about environmental cues associated with the desired substance, so that it can be located again. These memories help create a conditioned response-intense craving-whenever the person encounters those environmental cues.

Cravings contribute not only to addiction but to relapse after a hard-won sobriety. A person addicted to heroin may be in danger of relapse when he sees a hypodermic needle, for example, while another person might start to drink again after seeing a bottle of whiskey. Conditioned learning helps explain why people who develop an addiction risk relapse even after years of abstinence.

Recovery is possible

It is not enough to "just say no"-as the 1980s slogan suggested. Instead, you can protect (and heal) yourself from addiction by saying "yes" to other things. Cultivate diverse interests that provide meaning to your life. Understand that your problems usually are transient, and perhaps most importantly, acknowledge that life is not always supposed to be pleasurable.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
A Harvard Health article Addiction involves craving for something intensely, loss of control over its use, and continuing involvement with it despite adverse consequences. Addiction changes the brain, first by subverting the way it registers pleasure and then by corrupting other normal drives such as learning and motivation.

# data[].attributes.headline
Advice for families who have drug users.

# data[].attributes.subject
Advice for families who have drug users.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Advice for the families of people who use drugs – NHS

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Information and advice for families or carers of people who use drugs, including details of where to find local help and support.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Lorne’s experience of smoking cannabis | Modern Studies - Drink and Drugs: My Story

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An overview of what addiction is, the various types of addictions, and how they can be treated.

# data[].attributes.headline
The science behind - addiction to phone gaming.

# data[].attributes.subject
The science behind - addiction to phone gaming.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Science Behind Mobile Gaming Addiction

Share this infographic on your site!

What's not to love about mobile games? They're easy, fun and sometimes free (at first, anyway). But the same traits that make them lovable can also cause addiction.

The Mobile Gaming Industry
$7.8 billion
Total revenue for mobile gaming industry in 2012(1)
$12.6 billion
Projected mobile gaming revenue in 2016 (1)
909 million
Number of mobile gamers worldwide in 2013 (1)

0.15% of mobile gamers bring in 50% of the market's revenue. (2)
What does this mean?
Hardcore players of mobile games are spending the most money to buy in-app add-ons. The majority of mobile gamers are casual players who spend a lot less inside of a game.

Top grossing iOS gaming apps (1)
Game: Daily revenue
Clash of Clans: $1.2 million

Candy Crush Saga: $966,265

Kim Kardashian: Hollywood: $625,296

Game of War - Fire Age: $296,406

Slotomania: $233,917

Farm Heroes Saga: $196,236

Hay Day: $164,520

Candy Crush

Let's take a look at the perfect example of a successful, addictive mobile game. (3,4)
93 million
Average daily active Candy Crush users
78%
Percentage of parent company's revenue made by Candy Crush alone
Why do we love it so much?
Why are our brains hardwired to get sucked into games like Candy Crush? What makes them so appealing? (5)

1. You have to wait. It's like being put in timeout, waiting for your lives to fill up again. And the longer you have to wait, the more your craving builds.

2. We love positive reinforcement. It's hard not to feel accomplished when that deep voice says "Sweet!" after you clear a whole row of candy.

3. It's a one-hand game. It's not like a console game that requires all of your attention; it's easy to hold your phone in one hand and play, and do something else with the other. How convenient!

4. It never ends. The game's developers are always making new levels, so you'll probably never actually beat the game. You can always come back for more.

5. It's technically free, but paying for add-ons is easy. Just a few clicks and that extra life or power-up is yours.

6. Kids love candy. There's something to be said about the bright colors and animated treats; it taps into our inner child.

7. It's social. People feel a sense of pride when they finish a hard level. The game allows you to immediately share that with your friends via social media.

Addiction and the Brain

A mobile game habit isn't as physically dangerous as an addiction as heroin or meth, but your brain acts much the same way when it goes without. (6)

Addictions target the brain's reward system and flood it with dopamine. When we play, we feel happy.

Since playing is now associated with reward, our brains remember this action as something necessary to repeat in the future.

Over time, a person can produce less and less dopamine with the activity, so the brain craves more time spent with the addiction.

Because of the lower dopamine levels when not playing, withdrawal symptoms set in, including depression, restlessness, difficulty focusing, mood swings, and nausea.

Sources:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Science Behind Mobile Gaming Addiction

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The Science Behind Mobile Gaming Addiction Share this infographic on your site! What's not to love about mobile games? They're easy, fun and sometimes free (at first, anyway). But the same traits that make them lovable can also cause addiction.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Are you addicted to gambling? Here's where to get help for problem gambling, with links to treatment centres and support groups.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find out everything you need to know about drugs, their effects and the law. Talk to Frank for facts, support and advice on drugs and alcohol today. | FRANK

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Drugs and alcohol support in Essex, Suffolk, Medway and Norfolk | Open road

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Empowering individuals, families and communities in their journey of recovery from the harmful effects of drugs, alcohol and other addictions

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Addiction and dependency | Mind, the mental health charity - help for mental health problems

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Gives information on where you can find support on addiction and dependency, which are often linked to mental health problems.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
Home Detox UK - Alcohol & Drug Home Detox Services

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our Essex Rehabilitation Clinic is ready to help you beat addiction! Are you or a friend experiencing drug or alcohol dependence? Contact Home Detox UK today for free confidential advice on 01245 835991 or e-mail help@homedetox.co.uk
Essex Rehab For Alcohol Addiction

Many people need an alteration of environment along with a break from they're normal routine and atmosphere. For this reason we work really closely with alcohol addiction clinics around the globe. With booze becoming a growing issue not merely in the UK but also the world as a whole rehabilitation clinics for alcoholism have become more common. Our Essex Rehab Clinic is long established and contains an excellent long term success rate.

Essex Rehab For Drug Addiction

We even have an Essex Rehabilitation Centre that deals solely with drug addiction. Our Essex Rehabilitation practice can treat all substance habits including Cannabis, Cocaine, Crack, Heroin, Ketamine, Crystal Meth, MKAT, MDMA & prescription medications such as codeine or valium. All of our staff members come from drug or alcohol addiction backgrounds and several have been to rehabilitation for themselves. Are you or a beloved one struggling with drug dependency? Call our Essex Rehab now on 01245 835991 for free confidential advice.

Essex Rehab - Procedure Addictions & Mental Health Ailments

At our Essex Rehab Clinic we are able to deal with process dependencies like sex addiction, gambling addiction, co-dependency & eating disorders. We are also able to deal with depression, anxiety, PTSD & stress. Not sure if we can help? Contact Home Detox UK today for free advice on 01245 835991 or message help@homedetox.co.uk
Don't want rehab? Essex Home Detox for Addiction
Some people simply dont want to go to a rehab clinic. Others cannot due to price or work commitments. We offer a Home Based Detox service across Essex and have doctors situated in Chelmsford, Colchester, Basildon, Harlow, Grays, Clacton-on-Sea, Benfleet, Brentwood, Braintree, Loughton, Canvey Island, Billericay, Wickford, Rayleigh, Stanford le Hope-Corringham, Witham, Maldon, Harwich, Waltham Abbey, South Ockendon, Frinton and Walton, Saffron Walden, Tilbury, Halstead, Chigwell, Epping, Tiptree, Brightlingsea, Burnham-on-Crouch, Wivenhoe, West Mersea, Danbury-Little Baddow, Great Dunmow, Chipping Ongar and Manningtree. We cover every inch of Essex with our Home Detox Service and can often start the process the same day.

Are you or a loved on enduring drug or alcohol addiction? Call us today for more information on our Essex rehab clinics. We offer same day admissions and free transportation. Our Essex clinic can be reached on 01245 835991 or email help@homedetox.co.uk

To find out more about Essex click this link.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Essex Rehab For Drug & Alcohol Addiction - Home Detox UK - Call us

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our Essex Rehabilitation Clinic is ready to help you beat addiction! Are you or a friend experiencing drug or alcohol dependence? Contact Home Detox UK today for free confidential advice on 01245 835991 or e-mail help@homedetox.co.uk Many people need an alteration of environment along with a break from they're normal routine and atmosphere.