New Books in Drugs, Addiction and Recovery Judith Grisel, "Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction" (Doubleday, 2019)
Aug 4, 2025
Judith Grisel, an internationally recognized behavioral neuroscientist and author, shares her compelling journey from addiction to research. She discusses how addiction reshapes the brain, illustrating the complex interactions between substances and neural processes. Grisel elaborates on the three laws of psychopharmacology and explores the potential for a cure for addiction. The conversation also delves into the effects of various drugs, including cannabis and the importance of informed legislation, all tied to her personal experiences.
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South Florida Addiction Epiphany
- Judith Grisel recounts being homeless and addicted in South Florida where a friend told her, "There never will be enough cocaine for us."
- This moment sparked her recognition of addiction's dead-end and eventual journey to recovery.
Dopamine Drives Addiction Mechanism
- All addictive drugs activate dopamine release in the brain's mesolimbic pathway, producing feelings of pleasure.
- The brain adapts by becoming less sensitive, requiring more drug for the same effect and driving addiction.
Three Laws of Psychopharmacology
- Grisel’s 'three laws of psychopharmacology': drugs change rates of existing brain processes, have side effects, and the brain counters drug effects by producing opposite states.
- This makes addiction deadly persistent as the brain strives to maintain homeostasis.
