STAND, Inc.

The Root of the Response: ACEs & the Biology of Addiction 🧬🧠

Beyond Willpower:
Why do some individuals face a higher risk of substance use disorder? The answer often lies in the ACE Score (Adverse Childhood Experiences). A landmark study by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente revealed that as a person’s ACE score increases, so does their risk for clinical addiction. This isn’t a coincidence—it’s a biological consequence.

The Physiology of "Toxic Stress":
When a child experiences chronic adversity without a buffering relationship, their body produces a constant stream of "toxic stress" hormones.

The Reward System: This stress can "desensitize" the brain’s dopamine receptors. Substances are often used to artificially reach a baseline level of dopamine that the brain can no longer produce on its own.

The Prefrontal Cortex: Chronic stress can weaken the area of the brain responsible for impulse control and long-term planning, making "just saying no" a physiological battle rather than a simple choice.

The Self-Medication Hypothesis: For many, addiction is a survival mechanism—an attempt to regulate a nervous system that has been stuck in "fight or flight" since childhood.

The Path to Healing:
Understanding ACEs doesn't mean a high score is a life sentence. It means that recovery infrastructure must be trauma-informed. At Stand Inc., we believe that healing the nervous system through stable housing, peer support, and clinical care is the key to breaking the cycle.

Georgia Recovers! The Georgia Association for Addiction Professionals Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Georgia Council for Recovery

Please reach out if you, a friend or a loved one is suffering from addiction. To find support, please visit www.standinc.com or call us at (404) 288-4668.

Start your recovery journey with us today! You are not alone - your journey is our journey ⇢ ⇢ ⇢ 🎯

STAND provides solutions for abuse disorders through evidence-based training, education, and interventions that will empower all to engage in healthy productive lifestyles.

YOUR SOBER WEEKEND SUPPORT KIT ✨

Weekends can feel freeing, exciting, overwhelming, lonely, healing, or all of the above at once. Recovery isn’t just about avoiding old habits, it’s about building new rhythms that help you feel grounded, connected, and supported.

A few small things can make a big difference:
✔ Planning ahead instead of winging it
✔ Taking five quiet minutes to regulate your nervous system
✔ Reaching out before stress becomes isolation

You do not have to navigate recovery alone. Sometimes strength looks like slowing down, checking in, and letting someone walk beside you. 💛

STAND Inc. is a peer-led recovery community helping individuals and families move from surviving to thriving through connection, support, education, and hope.

Georgia Recovers!
The Georgia Association for Addiction Professionals Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Georgia Council for Recovery

📞 (404) 288-4668
🌐 https://ow.ly/ps8a50YVlXw