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CorporalProtonSardine28
This was my first discussion: After watching Johann Hari’s TED…
This was my first discussion:
After watching Johann Hari’s TED talk, “Everything you think you know about addiction is wrong,” I agree with him that “almost everything we think we know about addiction is wrong.” Hari says that addiction isn’t just a chemical imbalance in the brain that can be fixed by giving up drugs. Instead, he says, it’s caused by a lack of connection and being alone in the world. He says that addiction is a sign of a deeper problem, like trauma, loneliness, or being cut off from society.
I absolutely agree with what Hari stated: “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it’s connection.” This indicates that in order to overcome their addiction, addicts need to feel like they are contributing to society and have a purpose in their lives. In order to this, society has to refrain from humiliating and punishing individuals and instead begin to offer assistance to those in need.
Hari’s point is backed up by research that shows how important social connections are for preventing and treating addiction. A study in the journal Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation found that social support is a key factor in keeping people who are recovering from drug abuse from going back to using (Kelly et al., 2018). Another study, which was published in the journal Addiction, found that social support can help people drink less alcohol (Owens et al., 2014).
In conclusion, I concur with Johann Hari’s statement that “almost everything we think we know about addiction is wrong” and that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety but connection. A strong social network is an essential component of both the prevention and treatment of addiction; therefore, our culture has to stop punishing addicts and begin offering them assistance.
Our first discussion assignment for the semester asked you to comment on the following quotes from Johann Hari’s TED Talk (2015): “Almost everything we know about addiction is wrong.” “The opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it’s connection.”
In the closing pages of Chasing the Scream, Hari (2015) states: “The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety. It’s connection. If you are alone, you cannot escape addiction. If you are loved, you have a chance.” (p. 299)
Please review your initial post from Week 1. Have your thoughts on the topic changed? Have they stayed the same?
Please share your current thoughts on the topic, using what you’ve learned from the course to support your point of view.
Please cite and reference the text and include at least one peer-reviewed article to support your post.
