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Supporting Addiction Recovery Through Research

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At Root to Bloom Therapy, we work closely with individuals, couples, and families navigating addiction, infidelity, and betrayal trauma.

We see the confusion.
The devastation.
The questions no one seems to answer.

And we also see something powerful:

When people are given the right support, real healing begins.

That’s why addiction research and evidence-based treatment matter so deeply.

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Why Addiction Research Matters for Recovery

Addiction is not just about behavior.
It impacts the brain, attachment, relationships, and the entire family system.

Without proper research, many people:

  • Stay stuck in cycles of relapse

  • Receive incomplete or ineffective treatment

  • Feel misunderstood in their healing journey

  • Struggle to rebuild trust after infidelity

Ongoing addiction and family research helps therapists and recovery professionals:

  • Develop trauma-informed treatment for addiction

  • Better support betrayed partners and spouses

  • Improve infidelity recovery and relationship healing

  • Create more effective, long-term recovery solutions

This is how recovery becomes more than survival.
It becomes a transformation.

What Is AFAR (American Foundation for Addiction Research)?

The American Foundation for Addiction Research (AFAR) is dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of sex addiction.

AFAR envisions a world where sex addiction is:

  • Universally acknowledged

  • Scientifically understood

  • Accepted as a legitimate mental health disorder

Through pioneering research, public education, and advocacy, AFAR works toward a future where individuals, families, and communities can experience freedom from the effects of sex addiction.

AFAR’s Mission and Focus
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Since 1991, AFAR has been at the forefront of sex and pornography addiction research and advocacy.

Their work is built on three core pillars:

1. Advocacy for the Sex Addiction & Betrayal Trauma Community

AFAR champions efforts to:

  • Establish sex addiction as a recognized diagnosis

  • Increase awareness and reduce stigma

  • Advocate for individuals and families impacted by addiction

2. Supporting and Funding Research

AFAR funds groundbreaking studies, including:

  • Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on sex addiction

  • Scientific journal publications advancing treatment approaches

  • Research that deepens understanding of both sex addiction and betrayal trauma

3. Public Education

AFAR is committed to making knowledge accessible by:

  • Building databases of research-backed information

  • Providing resources for professionals and the public

  • Expanding education on addiction and its relational impact

Why This Work Is Urgent

Sex and pornography addiction are growing at an alarming rate, especially among younger generations.

With the rise of:

  • Easy access

  • Anonymity

  • Affordability of online content

Addiction rates among adolescents are increasing faster than any other age group.

This is not just an individual issue.
It is impacting marriages, families, and future generations.

Research is essential to understanding this crisis and responding effectively.

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A Legacy of Leadership in Addiction Research

AFAR was founded by Dr. Patrick Carnes, a pioneer in the field of sex addiction.

His contributions include:

  • Developing the Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST), the gold standard for assessment

  • Publishing over two dozen books on addiction and trauma

  • Advancing research in neuroscience, brain chemistry, and compulsive behaviors

Through partnerships with institutions like the University of Southern Mississippi, AFAR has supported research resulting in over 40 scientific publications focused on sex addiction.

Why This Matters for Betrayed Partners and Couples

If you’ve experienced infidelity, pornography addiction, or betrayal trauma, you already know:

The pain is deep.
And not all supporters understand it.

Many systems:

  • Minimize the trauma of betrayal

  • Focus only on behavior, not healing

  • Overlook the partner’s experience

  • Lack clear pathways for rebuilding trust

Research-backed approaches change that.

They create:

  • Safer disclosure and recovery processes

  • Better outcomes for couples

  • Validation for betrayed partners

  • Real pathways toward healing and restoration

How You Can Support Sex Addiction Research

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Healing doesn’t just happen in therapy rooms.
It happens through the ongoing work of research, education, and advocacy.

When you support AFAR, you are helping:

  • Fund sex addiction research and treatment advancements

  • Advocate for betrayed partners and families

  • Equip clinicians with evidence-based tools

  • Expand awareness and reduce stigma

This is how we create lasting change.

Join the Movement for Healing and Change

If this mission matters to you, you can be part of it.

Learn more about AFAR and donate here:


Every contribution helps move this work forward.

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