Dr. Gabor Maté's In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts explores the nature of addiction, arguing it stems from unmet emotional needs rooted in early childhood trauma and stress.

The book uses anecdotes from Dr. Maté's work with patients experiencing addiction in Vancouver'sDowntown Eastside to illustrate this perspective, contrasting it with prevalent biological reductionist views of addiction.

Maté challenges societal responses to addiction, advocating for compassionate understanding and harm reduction strategies rather than punitive measures. He further examines the role of social factors and systemic issues, such as poverty and marginalization, in perpetuating addiction cycles.

Finally, the text proposes a humane approach involving decriminalization and community-based support systems.