Covers everything from the causes and prevention of addiction to treatment methods

 If you find yourself constantly putting off tasks to stare at your smartphone, ultimately failing to complete them, or if you habitually binge drink (more than 4 drinks a day for women and 5 for men) whenever there’s an occasion, you may be at high risk for addiction. Addiction is defined as a compulsive and persistent behavior that continues even when it causes harm to oneself or others.

 Addiction treatment expert Anna Lembke describes addiction as a “disease of the brain,” pointing to dopamine—a neurotransmitter often called the “happiness hormone”—as being closely linked to addiction. With digital media and devices becoming essential in modern life, dopamine is increasingly viewed as a potentially harmful substance to our bodies. Some even practice "dopamine fasting" to reduce dopamine secretion. Through various experiments in the field of neuropsychology, we explore what dopamine is and the role it plays in our brains.

 The most challenging aspect of treating addiction is withdrawal. The pleasure gained from addictive substances or behaviors is followed by an equal or greater amount of suffering, which is why tolerance develops. According to Anna Lembke, the first step in treating addiction is confronting it head-on. It’s essential to understand why we use addictive substances or engage in addictive behaviors and to identify the specific triggers behind these actions.