The Huberman Lab Podcast discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviors, and our health. We also discuss existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr. Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity, and brain states such as stress, focus, fear, and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr. Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Current Biology. He is a regular member of several National Institutes of Health review panels and a Fellow of the McKnight Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. Dr. Huberman regularly consults for technology development companies, professional athletic organizations, and various units of U.S. and Canadian Special Operations.

How to Overcome Addiction to Substances or Behaviors | Dr. Keith Humphreys

January 12, 2026 3:27:00 35.6 MB ( -35.61 MB less) Downloads: 0

Dr. Keith Humphreys is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine and a leading expert on treating addictions, drug laws and policy. We discuss all the major addictive substances and behaviors, including alcohol, opioids, gambling, stimulants, nicotine, cannabis and more, focusing on how genetics and certain use patterns shape addiction susceptibility. We discuss the best evidence-based tools for recovery, from 12-step programs to emerging treatments such as psychedelics and ibogaine. Anyone interested in making better choices for their health and/or seeking to avoid or overcome addictions ought to benefit from this episode.

Read the episode show notes at hubermanlab.com.

Thank you to our sponsors

AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman

David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman

BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman

Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman

LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman

Timestamps

(00:00:58) Keith Humphreys

(00:03:22) Addiction; Genetic Risk

(00:09:14) Alcohol Use Disorder & Alcoholism; Genetic Predisposition & Addiction Risk

(00:18:03) Sponsors: David & BetterHelp

(00:20:37) Women & Alcohol Use; Young Adults; Cannabis Use

(00:23:36) Health Benefit to Alcohol?, Red Wine, Cancer Risk; Social Pressure

(00:31:47) Alcohol in Social Gatherings, Social Anxiety, Vulnerability, Work & Dates

(00:37:41) Old vs New Cannabis & THC Levels; Smoked vs Edible Forms

(00:44:38) Cannabis & Psychosis Risk; Cardiac Health; Youth Cannabis Use & Transition to Adulthood

(00:52:29) Sponsor: AG1

(00:54:13) Industries of Addiction, Regulation; Gambling, Slot Machines, Novelty; Casinos

(01:05:28) Decriminalization vs Legalization; Cannabis, Gateway Drug?

(01:08:50) Psylocibin or LSD, Addiction Treatment; Microdosing, Clinical Trial Challenges

(01:18:58) Sponsor: Helix Sleep

(01:20:32) Brain Plasticity & Age; Ketamine, Depression, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

(01:28:10) SSRIs, Mass Shootings, Suicide, Side Effects; Drug Approval; Ibogaine & PTSD

(01:36:10) Caffeine Addiction?; Stimulants & Rehab; Prescription Stimulants & ADHD

(01:44:04) Nicotine, Mistaking Withdrawal for Benefit

(01:47:24) Sponsor: LMNT

(01:48:44) Tool: How to Talk to Someone with Addiction

(01:55:23) Perception of Addicts, Character Defect, Pain

(02:00:58) Overcoming Addiction, Immediate Rewards, AA; Addict & Co-Dependency?

(02:09:53) Longterm Drug Use, Dopamine, Cues & Relapse; Social Media

(02:16:21) Brain Stimulation, TMS; Homelessness, Substance Use & Rehab

(02:26:11) Addiction Treatment Policy, Rehab & Insurance

(02:29:08) Tool: 12-Step Programs, AA, Accessibility & Benefits

(02:38:08) AA, Higher Power, Cult?; Flexibility, Tool: Open AA Meetings

(02:44:38) GLP-1s, Weight Loss, Alcohol Addiction; Pharmaceutical Advertisements

(02:52:39) Social Media Addiction, Tool: Avoiding Social Media Strategies

(02:58:36) “Failure to Launch”, Youth, Video Games, Social Media; Recovery Pathways

(03:04:13) AA as an Action Program, Tool: Try Different AA Meetings

(03:08:21) Hospice, Death, Overcoming Fear of Death

(03:13:54) Addiction to Escape Death?, Desire for Oblivion

(03:18:11) Men vs Women & Addiction; Lying; Relapse; Fentanyl & Addiction Advice

(03:24:27) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter

Disclaimer & Disclosures

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices