The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction Is Not a DiseaseThrough the vivid, true stories of five people who journeyed into and out of addiction, a renowned neuroscientist explains why the "disease model" of addiction is wrong and illuminates the path to recovery. The psychiatric establishment and rehab industry in the Western world have branded addiction a brain disease. But in The Biology of Desire, cognitive neuroscientist and former addict Marc Lewis makes a convincing case that addiction is not a disease, and shows why the disease model has become an obstacle to healing. Lewis reveals addiction as an unintended consequence of the brain doing what it's supposed to do-seek pleasure and relief-in a world that's not cooperating. As a result, most treatment based on the disease model fails. Lewis shows how treatment can be retooled to achieve lasting recovery. This is enlightening and optimistic reading for anyone who has wrestled with addiction either personally or professionally. |
Contents
Chapter Two A Brain Designed for Addiction | |
Natalies Story | |
Brians Romance with Meth | |
Chapter Five Donnas Secret Identity | |
Chapter Six Johnny Needs a Drink | |
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Common terms and phrases
abstinence accumbens activation adolescence alcohol Alice Alice’s amygdala anorexia anxiety appeal attraction became become began behaviour binge biological brain changes brain disease brain regions Brian cell centre Chapter childhood choice cocaine compulsive connections continued craving cues desire developmental didn’t disease model Donna dopamine dorsal striatum dorsolateral PFC drinking eating disorders ego fatigue emotional experience fact feedback loop feel felt future goals going habits he’d heroin imagine impulses insight Johnny Johnny’s learning limbic system lives look medial PFC meth methamphetamine Michael midbrain motivational core Natalie Natalie’s networks neural neurons neuroplasticity neuroscience neuroscientist never nucleus accumbens one’s orbitofrontal cortex patterns person perspective prefrontal cortex Rat Park recovery rehab relief seemed self-control sense shame she’d SMART Recovery social Stanton Peele stop substance synaptic there’s things thought told treatment twelve-step wasn’t week what’s