Dr. Sarah Wakeman

Yeah. So they, well, first of all, there's, I mean, there's whole like Reddit threads and online communities about this where people were prescribed it for diabetes or for weight loss. And they all of a sudden were like, I don't really want to smoke or drink. Like that kind of urge has gone away entirely. And for some people, they really describe it as being like miraculous.

Yeah. So they, well, first of all, there's, I mean, there's whole like Reddit threads and online communities about this where people were prescribed it for diabetes or for weight loss. And they all of a sudden were like, I don't really want to smoke or drink. Like that kind of urge has gone away entirely. And for some people, they really describe it as being like miraculous.

They've been trying to stop drinking for, you know, years and years. And for the first time, they don't feel that sense of like craving and urge anymore. And there recently have been some actual clinical trials where they've done placebo-controlled blinded studies and have shown that it does reduce drinking.

They've been trying to stop drinking for, you know, years and years. And for the first time, they don't feel that sense of like craving and urge anymore. And there recently have been some actual clinical trials where they've done placebo-controlled blinded studies and have shown that it does reduce drinking.

And so it's a really interesting area where it seems like those medications kind of reset craving and appetite more globally and not just for food.

And so it's a really interesting area where it seems like those medications kind of reset craving and appetite more globally and not just for food.

Yeah. When I read the headlines of someone dying, I mean, to me, it's gutting and heartbreaking. One, because obviously it's a human life that was someone's mother and sister or brother, and people cared about a public figure that people looked up to and cared about. But mostly that it was a totally preventable death, like really no one should die from a substance-related death.

Yeah. When I read the headlines of someone dying, I mean, to me, it's gutting and heartbreaking. One, because obviously it's a human life that was someone's mother and sister or brother, and people cared about a public figure that people looked up to and cared about. But mostly that it was a totally preventable death, like really no one should die from a substance-related death.

We have tools to treat addiction. We know how to prevent the harms of drug overdose, for example. And so the fact that someone can die, especially someone that everyone has watched for so long, is, I think, just like a tragic example of what the mismatch is between what we do around addiction and what science says is actually helpful.

We have tools to treat addiction. We know how to prevent the harms of drug overdose, for example. And so the fact that someone can die, especially someone that everyone has watched for so long, is, I think, just like a tragic example of what the mismatch is between what we do around addiction and what science says is actually helpful.

I think, you know, when I see someone who actively is showing signs, like, it's just sad to see that happen so publicly without people being able to support that person. And it's not a magic fix. It's not going to be like, you know, you have an intervention, the person goes to treatment, gets better forever, that I think is often in people's minds. It is a process, a journey, like any change.

I think, you know, when I see someone who actively is showing signs, like, it's just sad to see that happen so publicly without people being able to support that person. And it's not a magic fix. It's not going to be like, you know, you have an intervention, the person goes to treatment, gets better forever, that I think is often in people's minds. It is a process, a journey, like any change.

And so... Really, it is around where we began, that idea of how do you begin to understand with this person how is their substance use getting in the way of what they want for themselves and how might their life be better for them based on whatever they believe better is if they were to make changes to their substance use.

And so... Really, it is around where we began, that idea of how do you begin to understand with this person how is their substance use getting in the way of what they want for themselves and how might their life be better for them based on whatever they believe better is if they were to make changes to their substance use.

And probably give you so much empathy. A huge amount of empathy.

And probably give you so much empathy. A huge amount of empathy.

And you said something really important that was a slight shift in words. You didn't say he failed treatment. You said the treatment failed him. And that matters so much. Because I think too often we've made it seem as if people are failing. Like if they go to rehab and they don't get well. Yeah. It's their problem, you know? And actually, the treatment wasn't right for them.

And you said something really important that was a slight shift in words. You didn't say he failed treatment. You said the treatment failed him. And that matters so much. Because I think too often we've made it seem as if people are failing. Like if they go to rehab and they don't get well. Yeah. It's their problem, you know? And actually, the treatment wasn't right for them.

If someone had cancer and their cancer came back or didn't get treated by chemotherapy, we wouldn't say, like, oh, they failed. You know, we would say, well, what's the next treatment? How do we get them to the right doctor? And so there is this, like, personal blaming.

If someone had cancer and their cancer came back or didn't get treated by chemotherapy, we wouldn't say, like, oh, they failed. You know, we would say, well, what's the next treatment? How do we get them to the right doctor? And so there is this, like, personal blaming.