Virginia Tech Study Examines How Some Addicts Sustain Recovery

Encouraging recovering addicts to share their lives and their stories may be the key to determining the most effective behaviors and strategies used to beat an addiction. Researchers at Virginia Tech have created an online forum where recovering addicts are able to post their experiences. The forum, called the National Quit & Recovery Registry, gathers, through internet based sharing, ways that addicts have kicked the habit.

 

Learning from Addiction

 

Warren Bickel is the director of Advanced Recovery Research Center of the Virginia Tech Carillon Research Institute. He hopes that information gathered on the site will allow scientists to better understand the complexities of both addiction and recovery.

 

"There is so much to learn," said Bickel. "We can learn what methods these recovery heroes used to quit their addiction, and what strategies they use to remain in recovery when faced with challenging circumstances, such as the temptations associated with the holidays. And, with neruoimaging techniques, we can learn how their success impacts their brain function."

 

Hope for Addicts

 

Researchers hope that the information gathered from the registry will allow them to better understand not only drug addiction but other addictions, including:

  • Tobacco

  • Alcohol

  • Gambling

  • Overeating

  • Excessive sexual activity (sex addiction)

 

Bickel, and others on his team, are confident that the site will be useful not only to researchers, but to the addicts as well. The forum will allow other addicts to learn from the successes and failures of those who have gone before them and are now on a positive path toward recovery.

The staff and attorneys at the Norfolk criminal law firm of Tavss Fletcher hope that the National Quit & Recovery Registry will work to help addicts in Hampton Roads and across the nation beat their addiction once and for all. If you have been charged with a drug-related crime, the Hampton Roads criminal law attorneys of Tavss Fletcher can help. Call 757.625.1214 today for a free consultation.