Addiction Across the Life Span

  This week we are discussing addiction across the lifespan. Please watch this TedTalk by addiction expert, Dr Gabor Mate: The Power of Addiction and The Addiction of Power: Gabor Maté at TEDxRio+20 (Links to an external site.) The Power of Addiction and The Addiction of Power: Gabor Maté at TEDxRio+20   How does Mate define addiction and what does he mean when he says "we need to look at what's right about addiction"? (i.e. what do people get out of their addictions?) How does he relate his own shopping addiction to other addictions (i.e., problems that resulted in his life) How does the human brain and its interaction with the environment impact addiction? In his experience, how does early trauma and abuse impact addiction and what does he say about intergenerational trauma and its impact on addiction? What are your thoughts on this TedTalk and the perspective taken by Gabor Mate on addiction?