Dr. Anna Lembke

to the point where it becomes completely unclear what's working, what's not. Plus, you have drug interventions, which can be really dangerous. But getting back to GLP-1, I mean, you know, I don't have really a judgment one way or another about whether people should stay on them long term. I think it depends on the person.

to the point where it becomes completely unclear what's working, what's not. Plus, you have drug interventions, which can be really dangerous. But getting back to GLP-1, I mean, you know, I don't have really a judgment one way or another about whether people should stay on them long term. I think it depends on the person.

You know, it does appear that when people stop the GLP-1 agonists, they have, with food addiction, a resurgence in their appetite and they're at risk to gain the weight back. I've seen reports of individuals now kind of pulsing the GLP-1 agonists and

You know, it does appear that when people stop the GLP-1 agonists, they have, with food addiction, a resurgence in their appetite and they're at risk to gain the weight back. I've seen reports of individuals now kind of pulsing the GLP-1 agonists and

So using them for a period of time and then going off of them and then going back on for brief periods in a kind of pulsing way if, you know, the weight starts to creep up again or the relationship with the food starts to get verklempt again.

So using them for a period of time and then going off of them and then going back on for brief periods in a kind of pulsing way if, you know, the weight starts to creep up again or the relationship with the food starts to get verklempt again.

I think those cultural shifts can have a huge impact. I think we are seeing that with alcohol. More people, especially in the last two to three years, seem to be interested in drinking less alcohol. This is, you know, outside of the temperance movement and prohibition, it's definitely a new trend. But I think like most things, it tends to be a pendulum swing.

I think those cultural shifts can have a huge impact. I think we are seeing that with alcohol. More people, especially in the last two to three years, seem to be interested in drinking less alcohol. This is, you know, outside of the temperance movement and prohibition, it's definitely a new trend. But I think like most things, it tends to be a pendulum swing.

We typically go too far in one direction and then too far in another. I mean, in general, I think it's very good.

We typically go too far in one direction and then too far in another. I mean, in general, I think it's very good.

Obviously, given my profession and all the terrible harms I've seen associated with alcohol and drug use and other addictive substances and behaviors, you know, I'm glad that there's more awareness and that people are interested in finding out about how to have fun together without using substances.

Obviously, given my profession and all the terrible harms I've seen associated with alcohol and drug use and other addictive substances and behaviors, you know, I'm glad that there's more awareness and that people are interested in finding out about how to have fun together without using substances.

I do have a fear, though, that progress in the arena of drugs and alcohol might be happening because people are turning to digital drugs. I don't know. I hope that's not the case, but I do have some concern in that regard.

I do have a fear, though, that progress in the arena of drugs and alcohol might be happening because people are turning to digital drugs. I don't know. I hope that's not the case, but I do have some concern in that regard.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Yeah, it's a really fair question, and I think on some level we really are, which then begs the question, what is it about human nature, or I would argue, what is it about modern life that makes us so vulnerable to these addiction problems? I have kind of a, you know, some theories on that, totally, you know, speculative. Hit me. All right. You know, I think that...

Yeah, it's a really fair question, and I think on some level we really are, which then begs the question, what is it about human nature, or I would argue, what is it about modern life that makes us so vulnerable to these addiction problems? I have kind of a, you know, some theories on that, totally, you know, speculative. Hit me. All right. You know, I think that...

We're essentially struggling with endemic narcissism, where our culture is demanding that we focus on ourselves so much that what it's creating is this deep need to escape ourselves. And I think that is what is driving much of our pursuit of intoxicants as a way to just not have to think about ourselves for a blessed hour or two.

We're essentially struggling with endemic narcissism, where our culture is demanding that we focus on ourselves so much that what it's creating is this deep need to escape ourselves. And I think that is what is driving much of our pursuit of intoxicants as a way to just not have to think about ourselves for a blessed hour or two.