Managing Opioid Addiction and the Role of Medications

Guest Anna Lembke is a psychiatrist and a specialist in the behavioral sciences who studies addiction. While there is tremendous variety in the things people can be addicted to, all forms are tied to dopamine, a biochemical that is key to human senses of pleasure, reward, and motivation. She says that new treatments are combining traditional abstinence with programs that help patients reenergize dopamine centers in the brain through physical exercise, which is a known producer of dopamine. If patients can reach 30 days of abstinence there is a good chance at recovery, Lembke tells host Russ Altman on this episode of Stanford Engineering’s The Future of Everything podcast.

Episode Reference Links:

• Anna Lembke's Stanford Profile
• Anna Lembke's Website
• How do we fight the disease of addiction? (Anna's previous episode on The Future of Everything podcast)

Connect With Us:

• Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website
• Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon
• Connect with School of Engineering >>> Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Introduction 

Host Russ Altman introduces guest Professor Anna Lembke, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, and an expert on addiction.

(00:02:27) The Personal Nature of Addiction

Professor Lembke shares a personal story of addiction to romance novels, providing insight into how seemingly benign habits can become harmful addictions.

(00:06:02) The Brain Chemistry of Addiction

What happens in the brain during addiction, including dopamine's role in pleasure, reward, and the process of becoming addicted.

(00:11:10) Addressing Addiction in Healthcare

How the medical community has evolved in recognizing and treating addiction, partly due to the opioid epidemic.

(00:13:23) Strategies for Managing and Treating Addiction

Treatment approaches for addiction, including the concept of hormesis, and how engaging in challenging physical activities can help manage addictive behaviors.

(00:17:31) Treatment and Recovery from Addiction

Professor Lembke’s own experience with overcoming her addiction through self-intervention and “dopamine fasting”.

(00:22:05) The Addictive Personality and Genetic Vulnerabilities

The concept of an "addictive personality," genetic predispositions to addiction, and how these factors play into the challenge of treating and managing addiction.

(00:23:29) The Opioid Epidemic: Insights and Challenges

 An update on the opioid epidemic, the rise of fentanyl, and the ongoing challenges in addressing opioid addiction.

(00:29:08) The Future of Addiction

The broader context of addiction in society, emphasizing the importance of addressing addiction to digital media and other non-substance-related addictions

(00:29:57) Conclusion

Connect With Us:

Episode Transcripts >>> The Future of Everything Website

Connect with Russ >>> Threads / Bluesky / Mastodon

Connect with School of Engineering >>>Twitter/X / Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook