Neuroscience: Addiction as Learning - The Missing Link? — Prof. Marc Lewis

Professor Marc Lewis is a former Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Toronto and a world leading expert in the neuroscience of addiction. It was particularly interesting to speak with Marc because not only does he have a deep understanding of the neural mechanisms underneath addictive processes, he also has battled with quite severe opioid addictions himself. He is the author of two bestselling books on the subject: Memoirs of an Addicted Brain, and The Biology of Desire. Now, he works as a clinical psychologist in Toronto, specialising in addiction treatment.

You’ll learn:

— How Marc’s experiences as a developmental psychologist helped him to develop his groundbreaking learning model of addiction

— A simple introduction to the neuroscience of addiction and the brain areas involved

— Why it’s hard to stop an addictive pattern once it has taken hold

— What works (and what doesn’t) in recovery.

And more.

You can learn more about Marc’s innovative work by visiting: https://memoirsofanaddictedbrain.com.

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Prof Marc Lewis, PhD is a neuroscientist, professor, bestselling author, and one of the world’s leading experts on the neuroscience of addiction. In his academic work, he has authored or co-authored more than fifty journal articles, and for many years was a professor of developmental psychology at the University of Toronto and then Radboud University (Netherlands) before retiring.

For the last decade, he has focused on making his work more accessible to a wider audience through books for lay readers, pop science articles, public talks, and interviews. He is the author of two bestselling books on addiction: “Memoirs of an Addicted Brain” and “The Biology of Desire”, a book which Dr Gabor Mate argues “effectively refutes the disease model of addiction.” He is currently practicing psychotherapy as a clinical psychologist in Toronto, working with clients with addictive problems and other difficulties.

You can learn more about his work at https://memoirsofanaddictedbrain.com.

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro
00:45 - Understanding Addiction and Its Root Causes
06:43 - Challenging the Disease Model of Addiction
15:18 - Addiction as a Learning Process
22:59 - The Neuroscience of Addiction
35:03 - The Complexities of Addiction
46:34 - Reconstructing Identity in Addiction Recovery
55:12 - Empowering Messages and Recommendations

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6 Books Prof Lewis Recommends for Every Therapist Should Read:

— Drug Use for Grown-Ups: Chasing Liberty in the Land of Fear —Dr. Carl L. Hart - https://amzn.to/44MnKfG

— High Price: Drugs, Neuroscience, and Discovering Myself — Dr. Carl L. Hart - https://amzn.to/3Kt8YmH

— Unbroken Brain: A Revolutionary New Way of Understanding Addiction — Szalavitz Maia - https://amzn.to/3NS0p5q

— Drinking: A Love Story — Caroline Knapp - https://amzn.to/3NWYaOt

— The Night of the Gun — David Carr - https://amzn.to/44SHYod

— The Biology of Desire: why addiction is not a disease (The Addicted Brain) —Prof Marc Lewis - https://amzn.to/44QYpBl