TED Tuesday: Johann Hari— Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong

"The opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection."

Good Morning Folks,

Whether it's a drug, a hobby, fitness or Facebook, chances are you or someone you know is addicted to something. Perhaps today's TED conveys information you can use if you or someone you know struggles with any of these problems.

What really causes addiction — to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome it? Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do — and if there might be a better way. As he shares in this deeply personal TEDtalk, his questions took him around the world, and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem.

Is everything we know about addiction wrong? For example, one fact Hari touches upon is the long held belief that certain drugs, like heroin, for example, have chemical hooks in them that make you addicted – meaning if you take them for a period of time your body would become chemically dependant on those hooks. They create a physical dependency which result in addiction.

Is it about our environment? Our bonds, our connections, and our access to fulfilling, enjoyable activities? Is it about how we think about and perceive the world around us? Is it because we are not being nourished (mentally and spiritually)?

In the TEDTalk he says, “I believe the core part of addiction is, and what I think the evidence suggests, is about not being able to bear to be present in your life. And I think the core of that message -- you're not alone, we love you -- has to be at every level of how we respond to addicts, socially, politically and individually. For 100 years now, we've been singing war songs about addicts. I think all along we should have been singing love songs to them, because the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. The opposite of addiction is connection.” 

From there, the talk gets even more interesting (I’ll let you listen to the rest), and will definitely give you something to think about when it comes to addiction. 



Says a commenter of the program, "I read Hari's book, Living the Scream, before hearing this TED talk. Believe me, he is spot-on. I have first-hand experience with loving addicts my entire life; it IS truly about the cage NOT the substance."

Thanks to Collective Evolution, TED and to you for listening.

Have a GREAT Day,



Mitchell D. Weiner
Chief Happiness Officer  

Ideas are not set in stone. When exposed to thoughtful people, they morph and adapt into their most potent form. TED Tuesdays on MitchWeiner.com highlights some of today's most intriguing ideas. Look for more talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design -- plus science, business, global issues, the arts and much more— HERE.  

About FSO Onsite Outsourcing
Recognized on the Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest growing companies for the third consecutive year, and lead by industry pioneer, Mitch Weiner, FSO's growth and success can be attributed to making a positive and powerful impact on their clients' bottom lines, as well as their employees' careers and lives.