Addiction cuts across all strata of society, male and female, from the mailroom to the boardroom. We are all vulnerable. The essence of alcohol and drug addiction is "uncontrollable, compulsive alcohol and drug seeking and use, even in the face of negative health and social consequences." Although initial use might be voluntary, alcohol and drug addiction have been shown to alter brain circuitry, which in turn affects behavior. Once alcohol and drug addiction develop, these brain changes interfere with an individual's ability to make voluntary decisions, leading to compulsive craving, seeking and use. For most people, alcohol and drug addiction becomes chronic, with relapses even after long periods of abstinence.

For some busy professionals in the pressure cooker of success - like corporate executives, celebrity athletes and actors, or other high profile individuals -- taking 'time out' to address personal issues at an addiction recovery center does not seem practical, or even possible. You did not achieve your current success by slowing down or relying on others for help. Yet experts agree that addiction is a chronic, recurring disease that will always get worse, never better, unless treated.