As most drug and alcohol addicts eventually realize, good intentions alone aren't enough to break destructive habits. InMastering the Addicted Brain, however, author Walter Ling, MD, shows that addiction can be managed once its true nature is understood. Without finger wagging or assigning blame, Ling guides addicts and their loved ones through the tortuous path to recovery, offering both encouragement and tips to avoid potential triggers for relapse, such as stress, boredom, and social pressure. Ling begins with a brief, nontechnical description of the brain chemistry of addiction and explains why ingrained habits are so hard to kick. From there, he moves into a broader discussion of behaviors that lead to lasting change, illustrating his belief that recovery is not a one-time event but a way of life. To prevent relapse, former addicts must adopt new routines, new interests, new friends, and a new outlook. Above all, self-knowledge is the key to recovery. As Ling puts it, his program is simply the neuroscience of common sense. About the Author: Board-certified both in neurology and in psychiatry by the American Board of Medical Specialties, Walter Ling MD is a neuro-psychiatrist in the truest sense. For over five decades he has enjoyed a successful career in research and in clinical practice, consistently listed in the Best Doctors in American, Best Doctors in the West, and Best Doctors in Los Angeles. He has been a leader in developing science-based addiction treatment since the Vietnam War heroin epidemic when President Richard Nixon established the White House Special Action Office for Drug Abuse Prevention, forerunner of the National Institute on Drug Abuse. His numerous clinical trials through the years have contributed pivotal data to the Food and Drugs Administration's approval of all three currently available medications used in Medication Assisted treatment - methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone. Acknowledged and respected nationally and internationally as clinician, researcher, and teacher, Dr. Ling has served as consultant on narcotic affairs to the US Department of State, the World Health Organization, and United Nation's Office of Drug Control. For the last two decades, he led UCLA's Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, one of the foremost research and training organization in drug abuse in the United States and worldwide that has provided extensive drug abuse training to countries in Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Dr. Ling is Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry at UCLA and he lives in Los Angeles. |
