John Giordano - Can Our Genes Predict Addiction?

Nov. 15, 2011 - PRLog -- John Giordano PhD. (hon.), addiction counselor and alternative medicine pioneer, says that often one’s genetic make-up causes a person to struggle with alcohol and drugs.

Mr. Giordano has been at the forefront of genetic research for predisposition to addiction and genetically directed addiction therapy. In recent years John has been working side by side with world renowned geneticist Dr. Kenneth Blum – discoverer of the reward gene – conducting ongoing studies into the influence of a person’s genotype on their behavior. The studies have been conducted at the facility Giordano founded over twenty years ago – G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center – located in North Miami Beach, Florida.

Among the findings Dr. Blum unveiled nearly twenty-years ago, was the Dopamine Receptor D2 (DRD2) gene A1 Allele’s inability to effectively process dopamine – the primary neurotransmitter of reward and pleasure. Consequently, people with this gene variant experience the emotional opposite of “well-being.” Their biochemistry inhibits their ability to derive reward from ordinary, everyday activities – a condition coined by Blum as ‘Reward Deficiency Syndrome’ (RDS). Unwittingly, these people found that by consuming large qualities of food (especially sugary foods and refined carbs), alcohol, drugs and/or other external stimulants that they were able to spike their dopamine levels and achieve a temporary emotional state of well-being and happiness. More times than not, the protracted unabated cycle of over-indulgence results in addiction to one or more dopamine activators.

In a recent study, Giordano and Blum found that 74% or one in four people undergoing treatment at G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center carried the DRD2 A1 Allele. Based on the latest research, Dr. Blum estimates that one in three Americans carry the DRD2 A1 Allele. The significance of these statistics cannot be overstated.  Mr. Giordano says that we all have choices, but these people with the DRD2 A1 Allele struggle every day with the options in front of them. Their brains are not capable of processing dopamine properly, leaving them with a sense of unease. Initially, these people are not drinking or drugging to get high; they do it to get normal, to normalize their brain chemistry.

Independently and collectively, Dr. Blum and Giordano have developed safe natural nutrigenomic programs designed specifically to balance the chemistry in the brain’s reward circuitry. The end result is the first ever nutrigenomic program directed by – and designed specifically to – an individuals DNA.

After exhaustive clinical testing, Mental Clarity – a nutrigenomic developed by Mr. Giordano – demonstrated improved cognitive function and repair in the people tested. Synaptose™ – a nutrigenomic developed by Dr. Blum – showed significant reduction of cravings in the test subjects.

Both Mental Clarity and Synaptose™ are all natural amino-acid compounds proven to stimulate the production of Dopamine in the reward center of the brain. The subjects who have been administered Synaptose™ claim the nearly insatiable drug cravings felt less severe; while the addicts who were administered Mental Clarity stated they felt less foggy and more engaged in their daily routines.

John Giordano is the first and only in the world to adapt Synaptose™ and Mental Clarity in combination as an effective therapy for treating addicts. After years of extensive research and development, Mr. Giordano is incorporating a nutrigenomic protocol – directed by and designed specifically to an individuals DNA – into the already successful program at G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center.

CREDENTIALS: John Giordano is the president and co-founder of the prestigious G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center, a 62 bed in-patient/out-patient JACHO accredited addiction treatment center, he’d started over twenty-years ago, and The National Institute Of Holistic Addiction Studies (NIFHAS). He is the proud recipient of a Doctor Of Human Letters from Sinai University in Jerusalem. Giordano is a recovering addict with twenty-seven years of sobriety to his credit. Mr. Giordano is a therapist, Certified Addiction Professional (CAP), a Master Addictions Counselor (MAC), Certified Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Specialist, Trauma Relief Specialist (TRT) and a certified Hypnotist and a Certified Criminal Justice Specialist (CCJS). Mr. Giordano also earned a Masters Certification in Neurolinguistics Programming (NLP). He is a professional expert witness for the state and federal government. John is a Karate Grand Master 10th degree black belt and is in the Karate Hall Of Fame. Mr. Giordano is the chaplain of the North Miami Police Department.

Member of the Board:
The Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC)
Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA)

Mr. Giordano’s acclaimed book: “Proven Holistic Treatment For Addiction & Chronic Relapse,” (Tate Publishing 2007 ISBN: 1-5988637-5-4) is being utilized by several state hospitals and a number of treatment centers across the country.  

G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center, the facility Mr. Giordano founded over twenty-years ago, is a 62 bed in-patient/out-patient JACHO accredited addiction treatment center.

Mr. John Giordano can be reached at 1-888-565-5994

G & G Holistic Addiction Treatment Center Website:
http://www.holisticdrugrehab.com (Holistic Drug Rehab)

John Giordano’s Website:
http://www.holisticaddictioninfo.com

Mr. Giordano has also contributed to many peer reviewed medical and scientific journals such as but not limited to:

1.Neurogenetics and clinical evidence for the putative activation of the brain reward circuitry by a neuroadaptagen: proposing an addiction candidate gene panel map. Chen TJ, Blum K, Chen AL, Bowirrat A, Downs WB, Madigan MA, Waite RL, Bailey JA, Kerner M, Yeldandi S, Majmundar N, Giordano J, Morse S, Miller D, Fornari F, Braverman ER.J Psychoactive Drugs. 2011 Apr-Jun; 43(2):108-27.

2.Neuro-psychopharmacogenetics and Neurological Antecedents of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder: Unlocking the Mysteries of Resilience and Vulnerability. Bowirrat A, Chen TJ, Blum K, Madigan M, Bailey JA, Chuan Chen AL, Downs BW, Braverman ER, Radi S, Waite RL, Kerner M, Giordano J, Morse S, Oscar-Berman M, Gold M.Curr Neuropharmacol. 2010 Dec; 8 (4):335-58.

3.Test of variables of attention (TOVA) as a predictor of early attention complaints, an antecedent to dementia. Braverman ER, Chen AL, Chen TJ, Schoolfield JD, Notaro A, Braverman D, Kerner M, Blum SH, Arcuri V, Varshavskiy M, Damle U, Downs BW, Waite RL, Oscar-Berman M, Giordano J, Blum K.Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2010 Oct 15; 6:681-90.

4. Overcoming qEEG abnormalities and reward gene deficits during protracted abstinence in male psychostimulant and polydrug abusers utilizing putative dopamine D₂ agonist therapy: part 2. Blum K, Chen TJ, Morse S, Giordano J, Chen AL, Thompson J, Allen C, Smolen A, Lubar J, Stice E, Downs BW, Waite RL, Madigan MA, Kerner M, Fornari F, Braverman ER.Postgrad Med. 2010 Nov; 122(6):214-26.

5.Healing enhancement of chronic venous stasis ulcers utilizing H-WAVE(R) device therapy: a case series. Blum K, Chen AL, Chen TJ, Downs BW, Braverman ER, Kerner M, Savarimuthu S, Bajaj A, Madigan M, Blum SH, Reinl G, Giordano J, Dinubile N.Cases J. 2010 Feb 10;3:54.