Rethinking Addiction: It's Not Just About the Brain, It's the Environment

Addiction Economy Thought for Today - Chris Van Tulleken documentary on BBC on UPF, tonight and already on iPlayer. Joe Woof off to a meeting he is speaking at tomorrow, he liked our work last time we met him, hoping to get an interview for our book!

However, we are questioning one thing in his article in The Times this morning. Some academic stats say 10-20% of people are addicted across all these categories and put it down to a certain type of person or brain. But if you look at addiction as we do, as 'not having control over doing, taking or using something to the point where it could be harmful to you” (NHS definition), the figure with UPF, cigarettes and social media is much higher.

Over 1 billion people globally are struggling to control their eating, and 1 billion struggling to control their smoking until it harms and kills them. Because it is the Addictive Product, plus the Addictive Environment plus stress, not the Addictive Brain which is the problem. A billion people don't have an addictive brain or personality or are lacking in self-control all of a sudden.

https://lnkd.in/eVuh7-6R

"For some people, industrially processed foods are addictive, Van Tulleken says. He has patients who have told him of their experiences. “If there is something that you know harms you in some way, and yet you keep doing it despite trying to stop, whether it’s an activity or a substance, that’s what an addiction is.” One woman tells him in the documentary how she gorges on mixing bowls full of sweet cereal and bars of chocolate. “Most people will not get addicted. But the rate of addiction across cocaine, alcohol, tobacco and ultra-processed food is all about the same: 10 to 20 per cent of people, having tried it, can’t quit.”


https://lnkd.in/eQMi8FyY