316. Understanding Addiction with Judith Grisel

Addiction is a frightening disorder with complex root causes, affecting a staggering one in every five people over the age of 14. To explore the intricate nature of addiction, we invited Dr. Judith Grisel, a renowned psychology professor at Bucknell University and the author of Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction, to the conversation. 

What makes this conversation so powerful is not only Dr. Grisels wealth of knowledge but also her ability to explain complicated ideas in such a relatable way. And what’s even more remarkable is her own history with substance abuse and how, with effective treatment and understanding, she embarked on her own thirty-plus-year road to recovery.  

Combining science-based understanding with learned experience, Judith explains how addiction affects the brain, the social, psychological, and genetic factors that play a part, as well as the value of de-stigmatization, support, and early treatment. Whether you or someone you love has been impacted by addiction, her insights, and transformational story are sure to provide guidance and hope.

Listen and Learn: 

Judith details her own experience with substance abuse and explains what it did for her on a psychological level

What is the link between genetic liability and substance use during adolescent years that makes individuals more susceptible to addiction?

Why the use of drugs is not a moral weakness

Can even moderate use of alcohol be detrimental to your health and well-being? 

The neurological process that happens when it comes to addiction 

The turning point that motivated Judith's road to recovery

Why support, early treatment, and curiosity could be the keys to your recovery 

Are some drugs harder to quit than others? 

The opposite of addiction isn't sobriety; it's freedom

What can society do to combat the underlying causes of addiction?

Resources: 

Learn more about Judith 

Judith’s book Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction

Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction - TED Talk by Judith Grisel

About Judith Grisel

Dr. Judith Grisel is a behavioral neuroscientist with a particular interest in addiction. Her research attempts to identify psychological and genetic factors that lead some people to develop drug addictions while others in similar circumstances do not. Grisel’s work is inspired by her own personal experience with addiction, a struggle she chronicled in her book Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction. The work, which appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for science books, established Grisel as a leading expert on the science of substance abuse. That reputation earned her an invitation to speak on addiction panels at the 2020 World Economic Forum.

Related Episodes:

235. The Urge: The Shaping of Addiction & Mental Health with Carl Erik Fisher 

286. Not Drinking Tonight with Amanda White

Episode 101. The Complete Family Guide to Addiction with Thomas Harrison and Hillary Connery

Episode 155. Mindfulness and Recovery with Rebecca Williams     

Episode 202. The Addiction Inoculation with Jess Lahey 

Episode 233. Dopamine Nation with Anna Lembke

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