Addiction

Disorders and difficulties Therapies and practical advice Perspectives and controversies

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A woman sits at a cafe at night with a beer and a cigarette

Addiction

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You can want things you don’t like and like things you don’t want

The distinct neurochemistry of wanting and liking is helping to make sense of addiction – and more everyday behaviours

by Shayla Love

An orange pill container spills white tablets onto an open, highlighted book.

Addiction

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I made professor before Ritalin. Now I can’t work without it

Once I was prescribed Ritalin, I couldn’t do without it. How had I been a professor before I got my pharmaceutical wings?

by Gordon Marino

A close-up of a man using an online betting platform on his smartphone. The phone screen lights up a darkened room

Addiction

guide

How to control your gambling

What’s fun at first can all too easily get out of hand. Learn the warning signs and use these tips to rein things in

by Luke Clark

Black and white photo of two people close together in water, eyes closed and relaxed.

Caregiving

film

Stories of mothers in crisis form a poignant portrait of unconditional love

Directed by Savanah Leaf and Taylor Russell

Man smoking outdoors, smoke swirling around and sunlight filtering through trees.

Addiction

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Mental illness and substance use: genes show a two-way street

Why are smoking, alcohol and cannabis use linked to mental illness? The answer is complex but valuable for mental health

by Jorien Treur

Photo of a glass of beer on a reflective surface with blurred colourful lights in the background.

Altered states

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Here’s to my lovely, incandescent relationship with alcohol

Liquid gold, social pass, window on to the past, filter of life experience: my love affair with alcohol has no downside

by Anandi Mishra

a watercolour of a lopsided wine glass on a plain background

Habits and routines

guide

How to drink less alcohol

You don’t have an addiction, but you know you’re drinking too much. Learn to regain control and benefit your mind and body

by Michael Levy

A man watches a film on a monitor, showing a close-up of a scene with two people.

Addiction

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If you think you’ve got a porn addiction, you probably haven’t

People with addictions see relationships, health and careers fall apart. Most people who watch porn don’t meet this definition

by Joshua Grubbs

Two people squatting next to large bins in an alley named Bothwell Lane, with old brick buildings in the background.

Addiction

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Recognising the rhythm in addiction offers new ways to escape it

Addiction is not just about biochemistry – it’s also about time, and its hamster-wheel rhythm can suggest other treatments

by Eana Meng & Johannes Lenhard

Painting of a man in a brown hat and coat, leaning on a table with a bottle and fruit, hand resting on his chin in contemplative pose.

Addiction

guide

How to talk about someone’s substance use

Worried about someone’s drinking or drug use, but not sure what to say? There’s a counselling approach that can help

by K Michelle Peavy