Understanding Addiction: Perspective from a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

by Lofgran

Overview

In Understanding Addiction, Dr. Lofgran applies the science of recent addiction research to Christian values and beliefs. He explains what addiction is and how the concepts of addiction apply to everyone. Using personal insights and experiences, Dr. Lofgran explores topics ranging from the teachings of the gospel of Jesus Christ that help us avoid addiction, to the promise of the Atonement of Jesus Christ that brings hope and recovery to the addicted and their loved ones. As the crisis of opiate addiction grows, and as the death rates from drug overdose soar in America, Understanding Addiction will help dispel the myths, stereotypes, and stigma of addiction in a world that desperately needs to better understand addiction.

Understanding Addiction also provides information on addictive substances, with drug classes, street names, symptoms of use and withdrawal, and more, in a convenient reference for anyone wanting to better understand why addiction is becoming a national and world crisis. Anyone who is facing the tragedy of addiction, or working with those who have addictions, will benefit from the insights contained in Understanding Addiction.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780999343067
Publisher:	Reid Lofgran
Publication date:	06/04/2019
Pages:	226
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.61(d)

About the Author

Reid Lofgran has practiced as a family physician for over 16 years in rural Idaho. He is also the medical director of the Walker Center, a 28-day residential drug and alcohol treatment facility. Additionally, he provides office-based addiction treatment. After getting a bachelor's degree in Zoology at Brigham Young University Reid attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville Missouri, followed by additional training in Trenton, Michigan. Reid is happily married, with six children, a daughter-in-law, and 2 grandchildren. He enjoys writing, art, music, travel, being in the outdoors, and most of all, being with family. Reid enjoys serving in the church, having served many years in scouting, as young men's president, as bishop, and as high priest group leader. Reid enjoys speaking to youth and adults about preventing and treating addiction.

Table of Contents

Preface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Section 1: Addiction in Our Lives

Chapter 1 – Stereotypes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Chapter 2 – Addiction and the Atonement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Chapter 3 – Appetites and Addictions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Section 2: The Science of Addiction

Chapter 4 – What is Addiction?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Chapter 5 – Neurotransmitters—What are They? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Chapter 6 – Is Addiction A Disease? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Chapter 7 – Risk Factors for Addiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Chapter 8 – Repeated Use and Seeking Normalcy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Section 3: Addiction and the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Chapter 9 – The Plague of Addiction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

Chapter 10 – The Word of Wisdom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Chapter 11 – The Law of Chastity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Chapter 12 – Avoiding the Trap. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101

Chapter 13 – Obedience and Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Chapter 14 – Revisiting the Atonement of Christ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123