Check the news any day of the week and you will likely discover a story linking substance abuse to genetic factors of some sort. In fact, although headlines may trumpet "breakthroughs", read further and you will likely discover that no significant progress has been made. The simple fact is that there is no such thing as a "gene" for substance abuse, and today more experts than ever are coming to agree about addiction's true cause.

Compulsive behavior has long been well understood, but it wasn't until recently that people began to understand addiction on similar terms . The truth is that any behavior which gains its strength from our own feelings and associations is by nature psychological, meaning it's often best treated in a professional context. Thankfully, a growing number of substance abuse treatment programs now offer plenty of one-on-one time with trained experts in the field.

One of the great advantages to programs such as these is that they take a humane and compassionate approach to recovery. It's not unusual to get lots of contact with the outside world, and you never have to worry about punitive physical tasks or any such indignities. Instead, the top programs offer holistic healing techniques like meditation and massage to use your passage back into sobriety.

The real news in substance abuse circles is that the old techniques still work, and work well. If you have questions or concerns about residential programs in your area, don't be afraid to call the administrators in charge and ask questions. Your comfort in these matters should be priority one.