If you’ve seen the Netflix documentary “The Social Dilemma,” you’ll recognize today’s guest. Dr. Anna Lembke is an addiction specialist from Stanford University, a New York Times best-selling author, and was featured on that Netflix special. Addiction takes many forms – not only alcohol and illicit drugs, but also social media, exercise, shopping, and workaholism. But, where’s the line between habit and addiction? What can we do to reset our brain chemistry?

In this episode, Dr. Lembke explains dopamine’s role in our brain’s reward system. We discuss addiction in its many forms, social media, and strategies to rewire dopamine pathways.

Today on The Lab Report: 

• 3:00 Anna Lembke explains dopamine and the reward system  
• 6:05 Dopamine hits in today’s society
• 10:40 Moderation vs. Abstinence
• 13:30 Social media and children
• 15:00 Does society award addictive behavior?
• 18:45 Long term dopamine dysfunction and Parkinson’s disease
• 22:00 Parenting in the digital age
• 27:20 The Fireball

Additional Resources: 

annalembke.com 

Dopamine Nation 

Drug Dealer, MD

The Social Dilemma

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