Addictive behaviours have increased across the board since the beginning of the pandemic.

The unintended consequences of lockdowns have had a significantly negative impact on those already struggling with addictions, and many more have fallen into addiction’s clutches.

In this episode, Dr Nicole Avena, Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, talks to me about addiction in the context of covid-19.

We cover everything from defining addiction (in a practical way), the factors that lead people into addictive behaviours, how to overcome addiction, how to guard against it in the first place, and how to support loved ones who are struggling within its grasp.

(Episode recorded on 27th September 2021.)