The Key to Overcoming Addiction

You're wired so that exploration and

positive emotion are basically the same.

And the reason people like cocaine, for

example, is because cocaine makes them

feel like they're doing something high

order, worthwhile. One of the best ways

of overcoming an addiction is to find

something better to do. Maybe you like

drinking, like maybe it's a great

dopamineergic drug for you. So you have

lots of reason to drink. So then you

stop drinking and you go through the

withdrawal. Maybe that happens in a

treatment center, but you go back to

your normal environment and you'll

relapse almost immediately. Partly why

you need something better to do. Pursuit

of something worthwhile provides the

kick that the drug had substituted for

it.