Dr. Anna Lembke

Yeah, I think that's right. We are now turning to these devices and to the Internet to meet our physical, emotional, sexual, educational, every need we have. We don't really need other people anymore. We can get those needs met from the Internet. And I think that's a very scary prospect because I think it means that we will get more and more isolated.

Yeah, I think that's right. We are now turning to these devices and to the Internet to meet our physical, emotional, sexual, educational, every need we have. We don't really need other people anymore. We can get those needs met from the Internet. And I think that's a very scary prospect because I think it means that we will get more and more isolated.

The Surgeon General issued an advisory on our loneliness epidemic. And the irony is that even though the Internet can connect people, you know, across oceans and borders in a way that's amazing, it also, I believe, engenders and creates more isolation because people aren't needing other people in the same way anymore. They're getting their needs met. through the internet.

The Surgeon General issued an advisory on our loneliness epidemic. And the irony is that even though the Internet can connect people, you know, across oceans and borders in a way that's amazing, it also, I believe, engenders and creates more isolation because people aren't needing other people in the same way anymore. They're getting their needs met. through the internet.

And originally the concern was sort of like, oh, well, they're getting their needs met through other people in chat rooms or what have you for good and bad. But yeah, as you point out, now with AI and large language models, it's not even real people. It's like this amalgam of collected language creating a simulated person. I don't know. I just, it's really scary.

And originally the concern was sort of like, oh, well, they're getting their needs met through other people in chat rooms or what have you for good and bad. But yeah, as you point out, now with AI and large language models, it's not even real people. It's like this amalgam of collected language creating a simulated person. I don't know. I just, it's really scary.

Right. So the data here is really preliminary, and we need a lot more research. But there is clearly a signal that the GLP-1 agonists can help with alcohol addiction. We have patients in our clinic who have failed all other treatments for whom we have prescribed GLP-1. Things like Ozempic and Munjara and seen benefit.

Right. So the data here is really preliminary, and we need a lot more research. But there is clearly a signal that the GLP-1 agonists can help with alcohol addiction. We have patients in our clinic who have failed all other treatments for whom we have prescribed GLP-1. Things like Ozempic and Munjara and seen benefit.

And these are people who literally have tried everything and struggled for years and years and now report sustained remission from alcohol in a way that's just so hopeful and wonderful. I think there are some studies showing its benefit in possible behavioral addictions like gambling disorder and sex addiction. So, yeah, I mean... I want to emphasize that they don't seem to work for everybody.

And these are people who literally have tried everything and struggled for years and years and now report sustained remission from alcohol in a way that's just so hopeful and wonderful. I think there are some studies showing its benefit in possible behavioral addictions like gambling disorder and sex addiction. So, yeah, I mean... I want to emphasize that they don't seem to work for everybody.

So it's not like some kind of miracle cure. I mean, we have patients for whom, as I just described, they seem like a miracle cure. And then we have other patients for whom they don't really seem to do much. And that's true across the board with our medication treatments for all kinds of addictions. They work for some people individually.

So it's not like some kind of miracle cure. I mean, we have patients for whom, as I just described, they seem like a miracle cure. And then we have other patients for whom they don't really seem to do much. And that's true across the board with our medication treatments for all kinds of addictions. They work for some people individually.

And not for others, which is why it's so important that every individual has access to all the different options so they can use what works best for them.

And not for others, which is why it's so important that every individual has access to all the different options so they can use what works best for them.

So I know that my work is often interpreted that I'm skeptical of medical interventions.

So I know that my work is often interpreted that I'm skeptical of medical interventions.

I guess I would nuance that a little bit and just say I have seen that our medical system overemphasizes prescribing pills and performing procedures because it's more lucrative and it's faster and because we have a system that's not well set up to deal with chronic relapsing and remitting disorders like addiction and and other mental health concerns.

I guess I would nuance that a little bit and just say I have seen that our medical system overemphasizes prescribing pills and performing procedures because it's more lucrative and it's faster and because we have a system that's not well set up to deal with chronic relapsing and remitting disorders like addiction and and other mental health concerns.

But I very much use all kinds of medical interventions. I prescribe psychotropics and other types of medications on every clinic day. So what I'm seeking is more balance here and the recognition that, first of all, that psychotropics are overprescribed and that many patients experience debilitating polypharmacy where they're on 13, 14, 15 different psychotropics

But I very much use all kinds of medical interventions. I prescribe psychotropics and other types of medications on every clinic day. So what I'm seeking is more balance here and the recognition that, first of all, that psychotropics are overprescribed and that many patients experience debilitating polypharmacy where they're on 13, 14, 15 different psychotropics