He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do and if there might be a better way. As he shares in this deeply personal talk, his questions took him around the world, and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem.
I've been working in various areas of the addiction field for over 35 years. I can tell you that much of what you hear about addiction, particularly from the popular media and politicians (and many scientists), is wrong. Yes, wrong!
Here is one of the best talks you will hear about addiction. It has a great ending, and what Johann has to say is bang on! I've included some links to relevant articles I have written below. I should also mention that Professor Bruce Alexander, one of the key people who Johann mentions, is one of our team of Advisors.
It’s not just about the drug: The effects of a drug depend on an interaction between drug, person (set) and social context (setting). These three factors also influence the likelihood of addiction and recovery from addiction.
Journeys into and out of heroin addiction, Part 1: Common themes that resonate about people’s journeys into and out of heroin addiction, and common factors that influence these journeys. This first part focuses on the descent into addiction.