by Llaen Coston-Clark

“It’s like driving a car without brakes,” explains Dr. Nora Volkow, director of NIDA.  Morley Safer of CBS’s 60 Minutes recently interviewed Volkow  about her research on addiction in Hooked: Why bad habits are hard to break (April 29, 2012).  They touched upon addiction as a chronic illness, changes in the brain, stigma, why people “just can’t stop”, over-prescription of pain medications, and more.

I thought addiction was explained well in this segment, so if you have a few free minutes, check it out!

Also, don’t miss the brief “Web extras” on food addiction, a possible cure for addiction, and important factors such as ethnicity and environment .  The most dangerous drugs may surprise you.  

Dr. Nora Volkow