Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong | Johann Hari

He's right. I was a drug addict. Whether clean or not, I'd always retreat to isolation mode. I still do. We just don't know how to fit in.

Something is seriously fishy about this. First he said that drugs don't cause addiction, then went on to talk about addicts. So, which is it?

This video is preposterous. The Rat Park studies were flawed, and subsequent studies failed to replicate their results. The speaker in this video has a very shady history - none of which included education in the sciences, psychology or addiction. His history does include getting fired from the British newspaper, The Independent, for plagiarism. He subsequently resurfaced peddling his own book about - you guessed it- addiction. Addiction professionals and recovering addicts have a name for the unconditional love he wants people to give those in their lives suffering from addiction. It's called enabling. The term does not refer to enabling recovery, it refers to enabling the progression of the addiction. The guy is a charlatan, and shame on TED Talks for putting this up.

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Mental illness is a major factor in addiction.Peoples chemistry can be off.

this seems a lot like a kurzgesagt video on the exact same topic, same talking points in the same or similar paths, and the same flow.

plagiarism or coincidence?

Great TED, explains some aspects of my own life. I go to work every day and connect with colleges and friends then go home most nights and drink alone. Explains completely why by day I am sobriety and why at night I am not. To think it only took us 100 years to learn this important lesson about substance use/abuse.

I can hear kurtzkesagt in this.

This guy is a fucking idiot and should be shot up with heroin a couple three times so he knows what addiction really is.

That was incredible. 💖

Who's moving to Portugal with me?

amazing

this really is quite brilliant. I became a substance abuse counselor because I was a heroin addict for most of my life and I wanted to help others and I learned that it wasn't exactly about getting high it was about escaping whatever reality they were in and this is really powerful stuff. it is about connection I hope a lot of people learn from this Ted Talk it was awesome.

i am struggling not to end my life. been addicted from teens to now I'm 47 and cannot see a way out lost job wife family

ExcellentLove conquers all

I became disabled almost two years ago and now I go through about 90 oxcy 20s a week. I understand what it means to be alone now and he spoke the truth when he said only true friends will come see you. I thought I had friends but I was so wrong.

Interesting talk. From the U.S. army regarding the Vietnam experience, Google Scholar shows this absract:

Abstract
Between May and September 1972, 943 men who had returned to the United States from Vietnam in September 1971 as Army enlisted men were sought for interview and collection of urine specimens. Of these men, 470 represented the general population of Army enlisted men returning at that time; 495 represented those whose urines had been positive for opiates at time of departure from Vietnam. At interview 8–12 months after their return, 83% were civilians and 17% still in service. Nine hundred were personally interviewed and urine specimens collected for 876. Almost half of the “general” sample tried heroin or opium while in Vietnam and one-fifth developed physical or psychological dependence. In the 8- to 12-month period since their return, about 10% had some experience with opiates, but less than 1% had shown signs of opiate dependence. In the “drug positive” sample, three-quarters felt they had been addicted to narcotics in Vietnam. After return, one-third had some experience with opiates, but only 7% showed signs of dependence. Rather than giving up drugs altogether, many had shifted from heroin to amphetamines or barbiturates. Nevertheless, almost none expressed a desire for treatment. Pre-service use of drugs and extent of use in Vietnam were the strongest predictors of continued use after Vietnam. The results indicate that, contrary to conventional belief, the occasional use of narcotics without becoming addicted appears possible even for men who have previously been dependent on narcotics.

You've not discovered anything about addiction that people didn't already know. Not all addictions are chemical based... so as soon as you apply the theory to say, gambling... doesn't stack up.

"What if addiction isn't about your chemical hooks? What if addiction is about your cage?"

Everyone who deals with addiction, either personally or as a heathcare provider, should watch this talk. Amazing.