Why Me? How We Become Addicted to Alcohol

Many of us struggle with the shame we feel about becoming addicted to alcohol. We can intellectually understand that alcohol is addictive, but we often feel that we should 'know better' or "it could never happen to me". In my recent studies at Stanford University, where I completed a certificate in the Psychology of Addiction, Dr. Anna Lempke shared the reasons behind why people become addicted to alcohol (and other drugs).  In this episode of The Sober Edge podcast I break down what we know about genetics, the impact of our family of origin and the role that our neighborhood or culture plays in our risk factors for addiction.   Here are some of the highlights: The role of nature, nurture, neighborhood How advertisers use our emotional brain to trigger desires to drink Why we need to pay attention to dopamine when we are drinking and when we stop drinking The good news about alcohol addiction   Show Notes HERE