Why do some people become addicted, while others do not? Studies of identical twins indicate that as much as half of an individual's risk of becoming addicted to alcohol, or other drugs depends on his or her genes. Pinning down the biological basis for this risk is an important avenue of research for scientists trying to solve the problem of drug abuse.

Genes – functional units that make up our DNA – provide the information that directs our bodies' basic cellular activities. Research on the human genome has shown that the DNA sequences of any two individuals are 99.9% identical. However, that 0.1% variation is profoundly important, contributing to visible differences, like height and hair color, and to invisible differences, such as increased risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes…and addiction.

One of the things that I learned early on in my recovery from alcoholism was that as long as I continued drinking, peace of mind was never going to be achieved. Considering the path my life took in the months and years preceding my decision to enter alcohol rehab, they were absolutely right.

So, what do I do to stop the pain in my head? That’s the question that many alcoholics face in early recovery. At 12 Palms Recovery Center, that answer can be found.