In *Unbroken Brain*, Maia Szalavitz challenges traditional views of addiction by presenting it as a learning disorder, emphasizing the role of neuroplasticity and environmental factors. The book combines personal narrative with scientific research to offer a compassionate and effective approach to understanding and treating addiction.
In 'Chasing the Scream', Johann Hari delves into the origins and consequences of the war on drugs. The book spans nine countries, where Hari interviews a diverse range of individuals, including addicts, dealers, scientists, and policymakers. Hari explores the early figures in the drug war, such as Billie Holiday and Harry J. Anslinger, and discusses modern-day alternatives to prohibition, including decriminalization and legalization policies in countries like Portugal and Uruguay. The book argues that addiction is not a disease but an adaptation to environment and advocates for a shift from punitive measures to rehabilitation and connection-based solutions.
Maia Szalavitz is an American reporter and author who has focused much of her work on the topic of addiction. She is the co-author of Born for Love and The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog, both with Dr. Bruce D. Perry. Her latest book is Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction
In this paradigm-shifting interview, Maia Szalavitz explains that addiction is a learning disorder, a developmental disorder, which is a different way of thinking of addiction than it being a disease or a moral failing.
Need help with completing your goals in 2019? The One You Feed Transformation Program can help you accomplish your goals this year.
But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!
In This Interview, Maia Szalavitz and I Discuss…
- Her book, Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction
- That your brain becomes what it does – that the more you repeat an activity, the easier it becomes
- How addiction is a developmental disorder and how learning is critical to addiction
- The problems with discussion about addiction as a disease
- Arguing that addiction is a disease and then treating it like a moral failing
- Addiction resets your priorities and causes one to make different decisions
- Addiction = compulsive behavior that continues despite negative consequences
- How illogical it is then to try and address addiction by focusing on implementing additional negative consequences
- The complexity of addiction, genes + culture + timing
- The developmental history that gets you to addiction
- How the drug isn’t the problem and our efforts to get rid of it isn’t a helpful solution
- Addiction as a learning disorder that is characterized by a resistance to punishment
- The problem with “rock bottom” is it’s not helpful scientifically, and it implies a moral component of having to reach a point of extreme degradation before you can stop.
- What the motivation is that turns people to recovery
- How addicts keep using because they can’t see how they can survive any other way
- Recovery begins when you start to see that there are other options
- People with addiction are living at a point of learned helplessness
- The role of hope and other ways of managing their life
- Addiction as a coping mechanism
- The pleasures of the hunt vs the pleasures of the feast
- Wanting vs Liking
- Different motivational states
- Addiction as escalating wanting
- Stimulants and chasing that satisfaction
- The effectiveness and usefulness of 12 Step Programs
- The role of medicine in a developmental disorder
- Looking at addicts as students who need to learn better coping skills rather than sinners who need to be forced to repent.
Maia Szalavitz Links:
maiasz.com
Twitter
Calm app – Reduce your anxiety and stress and help you sleep better. Meditations for anxiety, adult bedtime stories, soothing music, calm masterclasses with many One You Feed Guests. Visit www.calm.com/wolf for 25% off a Calm Premium Subscription
Peloton – Looking for a new way to get your cardio in? The Peloton bike will make you rethink the way you look at cycling classes! Visit onepeloton.com and enter Promo code “WOLF” to get $100 off of accessories with purchase of a bike.
Westin – Westin resorts have wellness offerings that are curated just for you to help you eat, move and sleep well. Explore at westin.com
If you enjoyed this conversation with Maia Szalavitz, you might also enjoy these other episodes!
Dr. Gabor Mate’
Judson Brewer
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The One You Feed 
