"True sobriety, I have learned, is not so much about not drinking or drugging, it is about developing an attitude and lifestyle that brings sufficient serenity and personal reward that drinking, or taking any mood-altering drug, is simply unnecessary."  
                                                                  ~  Dr. T (p. 180, Hijacking the Brain)    

Hijacking the Brain is a landmark book on drug and alcohol addiction, providing the first-ever scientific explanation  for the success of Twelve-Step recovery programs.

Hijacking the Brain examines data provided by recent rapid growth in the fields of neuroscience, neuroimaging, psychology, sociobiology and interpersonal neurobiology that have given us new, dramatic insights into the neural and hormonal correlates of stress and addiction, cognitive decline with addiction, as well as the scientific basis for the relative success of Twelve-Step Programs of recovery.  

Addiction is recognized by experts as an organic brain disease, and most experts promote Twelve-Step programs (AA, NA, CA, etc.) which invoke a 'spiritual solution' for recovery.  To date, no one has described "why" these programs work.  Hijack tells us why.  In Hijack, the role of 'working the steps' for reducing stress and becoming emotionally centered is discussed in depth.  A full chapter is devoted to the rewarding and comforting physiology of meditation and the spiritual experience.  The author uses examples from animal sociobiology, as well as sophisticated human brain-imaging studies to demonstrate that empathic socialization and altruism are instinctive and 'naturally rewarding' and, along with Twelve-Step Work, act as a substitute for the 'synthetic rewards' of drugs of abuse.

Hijack does not challenge the Steps or the Traditions of Twelve-Step programs.  The sole intention of Hijacking the Brain is to 'connect the dots' between an 'organic brain disease' and a 'spiritual solution' with sound physical, scientific evidence.  

Avoiding strict scientific language as much as possible, Hijack is written for the layperson and abundantly illustrated.  

(300 text pages, 25 illustrations, >1,250 online references, AuthorHouse.com)