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Addiction 'News & Notes' takes an in-depth look at addiction and its many forms through feature reports and roundtable conversations.
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Addiction

Analyzing Addiction As Depicted In The Media

From the silver screen to reality TV, stories of substance abuse are presented as drama, tragedy, and even comedy. News & Notes brings its month-long series on addiction to a close with a look at how pop culture depicts dependency.

Analyzing Addiction As Depicted In The Media

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Hooked On Love: Developing An Addiction To Sex

As our series on addiction continues, we focus on sex and love dependencies. There's still a lot of skepticism surrounding whether or not people can be addicted to love. But Farai Chideya gets insight from two authors who specialize in the topic.

Hooked On Love: Developing An Addiction To Sex

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Battling Back From A Food Addiction

Our series on addiction continues with a look at one woman's struggles with compulsive overeating. Farai Chideya speaks with Libby Bier — a food addiction counselor at the Illinois Institute for Addiction Recovery — and "Vic," a recovering food addict.

Battling Back From A Food Addiction

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From Overeating To A Full Blown Food Addiction

Many of us over-indulge from time to time — a bag of cookies after a long hard day at work or an extra-helping of pasta or chicken. But when do we cross the line from occasional overeating to a food addiction?

From Overeating To A Full Blown Food Addiction

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What Makes Drug Detox Programs Work?

News & Notes' month-long series on addiction continues: Once someone agrees to go into substance abuse treatment, the critical process of drug detox begins. Farai Chideya takes a closer look at the process of detoxification.

What Makes Drug Detox Programs Work?

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Battling Back When Addiction Affects The Family

Sometimes addiction is easy to spot. But if it happens in your family, what do you do? When and how should you step in? For more, Farai Chideya talks with a specialist and two people whose lives were touched by addiction.

Battling Back When Addiction Affects The Family

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Struggling With Mental Illness, Drug Dependency

Some who deal with a drug addiction also face the challenges of a mental illness. What if drug use is masking or exaggerating depression, schizophrenia, or a bi-polar disorder? For insight, Farai Chideya talks with a recovering addict and a treatment specialist.

Struggling With Mental Illness, Drug Dependency

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An Inside Look At Teens Battling Substance Abuse

By the eighth grade, 52 percent of adolescents have consumed alcohol, and 20 percent have used marijuana — according to the non-profit group, Partnership for a Drug Free America. But what factors lead teens to addiction? For more, Farai Chideya speaks with a recovering teen addict and an addiction specialist.

An Inside Look At Teens Battling Substance Abuse

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Fighting Addiction With Help From A Higher Power

Many twelve-step addiction programs, like Alcoholics Anonymous, champion the idea of relying on a higher power for help with kicking the habit. What is the connection between faith and recovery? We take a look at spirituality and addiction.

Fighting Addiction With Help From A Higher Power

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When A High Tech Habit Becomes Unhealthy

When does checking your e-mail or surfing the Web become an addiction? And do video games encourage addictive relationships to technology? Farai Chideya talks with Hilarie Cash, co-founder of Internet-Computer Addiction Services.

When A High Tech Habit Becomes Unhealthy

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Falling Prey To Online Fantasy Worlds

For some people, online games can become an addictive world of fantasy. For others, it can be a world of isolation and addiction. Farai Chideya talks with Liz Woolley, whose son, Shawn, suffered a deadly addiction to online fantasy worlds.

Falling Prey To Online Fantasy Worlds

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Functioning Addicts Managing Hidden Compulsions

Many addicts manage to function everyday without others knowing about it. But how do they do it? NPR's Tony Cox talks with Ed Storti, a certified alcohol and drug counselor and intervention specialist.

Functioning Addicts Managing Hidden Compulsions

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A Personal Story Of A Hidden Addiction

He had a college degree, a family ... and a secret drug habit. Don W. shares his personal story of recovery with NPR's Tony Cox. Years of drug and alcohol abuse left Don unemployed and on the streets. He finally sought help for his disease and has now been sober for 13 years.

A Personal Story Of A Hidden Addiction

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What Triggers Addiction? How Can It Be Broken?

When does a little excess turn into an addiction? Our series continues with a look at the psychology of addiction. What are the signs of an addictive personality? And how can the cycle of compulsive behavior be broken? NPR's Tony Cox speaks with two experts.

What Triggers Addiction? How Can It Be Broken?

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When Shopping, Spending Spirals Into Addiction

For more insight into addictive personalities, NPR's Tony Cox speaks with Lisa P., a recovering compulsive spender and shoplifter. She shares her struggles and explains how she was able to break her addiction.

When Shopping, Spending Spirals Into Addiction

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Defining Addiction And Its Many Forms

Whether it's drugs, shopping, or gambling, addiction can take control your life. Today, we kick off our month-long series about addiction. Farai Chideya speaks with Dr. Tim Fong — co-director of University of California Los Angeles' gambling studies program — and Dr. Jon Grant, associate professor of psychiatry at University of Minnesota.

Defining Addiction And Its Many Forms

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Battling Back From A Gambling Addiction

Jonny W. says he lost almost everything to a gambling addiction — his wife, his money, and the life he once knew. He shares with Farai Chideya his personal story of losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in casinos and starting over in recovery.

Battling Back From A Gambling Addiction

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Critics Say Chauvin Defense 'Weaponized' Stigma For Black Americans With Addiction

A person holds up a portrait of George Floyd as people gather outside the Hennepin County Government Center on April 9 in Minneapolis Stephen Maturen/Getty Images hide caption

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Critics Say Chauvin Defense 'Weaponized' Stigma For Black Americans With Addiction

Derek Chauvin's defense has suggested George Floyd's drug use might have made him more "volatile" and unpredictable, justifying the use of force. Critics say Floyd needed health care and compassion.

Critics Say Chauvin Defense 'Weaponized' Stigma For Black Americans With Addiction

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