CBC The Passionate Eye 2019.08.27 Addiction

Join scientists and sufferers as they probe the mysteries of addiction. Doctors are discovering that addiction is not merely a lack of willpower; drug abuse produces significant chemical changes in the brain — changes that are hard to control, and hard to reverse. What’s worse, many addictions start with prescription or even over-the-counter pain killers for entirely legitimate ailments. And it is not just drugs — alcohol, sugar, caffeine, even exercise can incite addictive behaviours.

MORE: What new science is telling us about the causes of addiction and how we can treat it

Addiction investigates: How do addictions work? And what can the science of addiction tell us about how we can resolve this chronic, treatable medical condition, and how we shouldn’t.