Addiction: What Causes It?

Gabor Maté, MD, was trained as a family doctor but later turned his attention to helping heal addictions. The video below is the most brilliant, succinct expose I know of concerning the causes of addiction. It also covers how we have in the past perceived the causes of addiction and how poor our success rate has been in helping addicts overcome their dependence on drugs or alcohol.

Addiction's Roots

Trauma experienced early in childhood, and a lack of understanding and help how to overcome that trauma is the cause, says Dr. Maté. That trauma he refers to might be as simple as neglect of a child's emotional needs for attunement and nurturing from a dependable parent; or as horrible as sexual or physical abuse perpetuated by an authority figure.

Effective Healing of Addiction

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy with trained guides and pure substances is being widely studied for efficacy in overcoming addiction. Ibogaine can completely interrupt all addictions for a period of time. MDMA can provide deep and safe connection in a nurturing environment, giving the client a whole new option for relationship. Of course, continuity of connection is also important in integration.

A Range of Addiction Therapies

Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is not the only effective means for overcoming addiction. Some people have had success with Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Experience, EMDR, or Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT/Tapping). IMHU offers several presentations about psychedelic assisted psychotherapy, including Ibogaine: A non-pharmaceutical road out of addiction.