I’d like to start off by telling you a story it’s about a woman named Barbara
story it’s about a woman named Barbara
story it’s about a woman named Barbara now unfortunately for Barbara when she
now unfortunately for Barbara when she
now unfortunately for Barbara when she was young unhealthy habits were modeled
was young unhealthy habits were modeled
was young unhealthy habits were modeled at home and several of her close
at home and several of her close
at home and several of her close relatives struggled with a very specific
relatives struggled with a very specific
relatives struggled with a very specific type of disorder as Barbara got older
type of disorder as Barbara got older
type of disorder as Barbara got older she realized that exposure to a certain
she realized that exposure to a certain
she realized that exposure to a certain type of substance was highly rewarding
type of substance was highly rewarding
type of substance was highly rewarding for her and she began actively seeking
for her and she began actively seeking
for her and she began actively seeking it out and consuming it without
it out and consuming it without
it out and consuming it without experiencing really any negative
experiencing really any negative
experiencing really any negative consequences over time though Barbara
consequences over time though Barbara
consequences over time though Barbara began to experience the negative health
began to experience the negative health
began to experience the negative health effects associated with taking the
effects associated with taking the
effects associated with taking the substance for a long period of time
substance for a long period of time
substance for a long period of time she had intense cravings she began to
she had intense cravings she began to
she had intense cravings she began to struggle with depression and even though
struggle with depression and even though
struggle with depression and even though she had tried to reduce her intake
she had tried to reduce her intake
she had tried to reduce her intake several times she had been unsuccessful
several times she had been unsuccessful
several times she had been unsuccessful each time now I’m sure you all have an
each time now I’m sure you all have an
each time now I’m sure you all have an idea of what it is that Barbara is
idea of what it is that Barbara is
idea of what it is that Barbara is struggling with and if you had guessed
struggling with and if you had guessed
struggling with and if you had guessed addiction then you would be correct
addiction then you would be correct
addiction then you would be correct Barbara’s not alone in this one in five
Barbara’s not alone in this one in five
Barbara’s not alone in this one in five Canadians will meet the criteria for
Canadians will meet the criteria for
Canadians will meet the criteria for substance use disorder at some point in
substance use disorder at some point in
substance use disorder at some point in their lifetime I want you to think about
their lifetime I want you to think about
their lifetime I want you to think about this I want you to look to the two
this I want you to look to the two
this I want you to look to the two people on your right-hand side and then
people on your right-hand side and then
people on your right-hand side and then the two people on your left-hand side
the two people on your left-hand side
the two people on your left-hand side statistically speaking this means that
statistically speaking this means that
statistically speaking this means that one of you will meet the criteria for
one of you will meet the criteria for
one of you will meet the criteria for substance use disorder at some point in
substance use disorder at some point in
substance use disorder at some point in your lifetime four in ten Canadians will
your lifetime four in ten Canadians will
your lifetime four in ten Canadians will meet their criteria for addiction to
meet their criteria for addiction to
meet their criteria for addiction to tobacco products – and ten Canadians
tobacco products – and ten Canadians
tobacco products – and ten Canadians will meet the criteria for addiction to
will meet the criteria for addiction to
will meet the criteria for addiction to alcohol and six and one-hundred about
alcohol and six and one-hundred about
alcohol and six and one-hundred about six percent of the population will meet
six percent of the population will meet
six percent of the population will meet the criteria for addiction to cannabis
the criteria for addiction to cannabis
the criteria for addiction to cannabis and other illicit substances the social
and other illicit substances the social
and other illicit substances the social cost of this according to a 2006 study
cost of this according to a 2006 study
cost of this according to a 2006 study was approximately thirty nine point
was approximately thirty nine point
was approximately thirty nine point eight billion
eight billion
eight billion each year this means that it costs just
each year this means that it costs just
each year this means that it costs just over $1,200
over $1,200
over $1,200 to every man woman in child in Canada
to every man woman in child in Canada
to every man woman in child in Canada and this includes both direct costs like
and this includes both direct costs like
and this includes both direct costs like the cost of health care and law
the cost of health care and law
the cost of health care and law enforcement and indirect costs like lost
enforcement and indirect costs like lost
enforcement and indirect costs like lost productivity at work now Barbara’s
productivity at work now Barbara’s
productivity at work now Barbara’s specific addiction will cost Canadians
specific addiction will cost Canadians
specific addiction will cost Canadians approximately four point five billion
approximately four point five billion
approximately four point five billion dollars each year now some of you may
dollars each year now some of you may
dollars each year now some of you may have an idea of what the substance
have an idea of what the substance
have an idea of what the substance barbara is addicted to is some of you
barbara is addicted to is some of you
barbara is addicted to is some of you might be guessing tobacco some of you
might be guessing tobacco some of you
might be guessing tobacco some of you might be thinking alcohol some of you
might be thinking alcohol some of you
might be thinking alcohol some of you might be thinking something a little
might be thinking something a little
might be thinking something a little harder like cocaine or heroin in
harder like cocaine or heroin in
harder like cocaine or heroin in actuality Barbara isn’t addicted to any
actuality Barbara isn’t addicted to any
actuality Barbara isn’t addicted to any of these substances Barbara is addicted
of these substances Barbara is addicted
of these substances Barbara is addicted to food now some of you might be
to food now some of you might be
to food now some of you might be surprised by that statement and some of
surprised by that statement and some of
surprised by that statement and some of you might not disagree or what may
you might not disagree or what may
you might not disagree or what may disagree with that statement and in fact
disagree with that statement and in fact
disagree with that statement and in fact the controversy surrounding food
the controversy surrounding food
the controversy surrounding food addiction has been waging for the better
addiction has been waging for the better
addiction has been waging for the better part of the past ten years on two fronts
part of the past ten years on two fronts
part of the past ten years on two fronts the first is what I like to call the
the first is what I like to call the
the first is what I like to call the social media war on one side you have
social media war on one side you have
social media war on one side you have individuals that claim to suffer from
individuals that claim to suffer from
individuals that claim to suffer from food addiction and provide anecdotal
food addiction and provide anecdotal
food addiction and provide anecdotal evidence of their own experiences and
evidence of their own experiences and
evidence of their own experiences and the experiences of the people that they
the experiences of the people that they
the experiences of the people that they know and on the other side is you have
know and on the other side is you have
know and on the other side is you have individuals that claim that the words
individuals that claim that the words
individuals that claim that the words food addiction are simply a cover an
food addiction are simply a cover an
food addiction are simply a cover an excuse for developing obesity or for
excuse for developing obesity or for
excuse for developing obesity or for having low self-control the other front
having low self-control the other front
having low self-control the other front on which this controversy is waged is in
on which this controversy is waged is in
on which this controversy is waged is in the scientific 110 years ago health
the scientific 110 years ago health
the scientific 110 years ago health scientists started saying look we’ve got
scientists started saying look we’ve got
scientists started saying look we’ve got people coming to us and they are showing
people coming to us and they are showing
people coming to us and they are showing hallmark features of addiction they are
hallmark features of addiction they are
hallmark features of addiction they are showing tolerance they’re showing
showing tolerance they’re showing
showing tolerance they’re showing withdrawal they’re showing impulse
withdrawal they’re showing impulse
withdrawal they’re showing impulse control issues and on the other side you
control issues and on the other side you
control issues and on the other side you had individuals that studied the sort of
had individuals that studied the sort of
had individuals that studied the sort of classic drugs of abuse like cocaine and
classic drugs of abuse like cocaine and
classic drugs of abuse like cocaine and like heroin who said that food could not
like heroin who said that food could not
like heroin who said that food could not be classified in the same way as those
be classified in the same way as those
be classified in the same way as those drugs and that the neurobiological
drugs and that the neurobiological
drugs and that the neurobiological things that
things that
things that often when someone becomes addicted
often when someone becomes addicted
often when someone becomes addicted aren’t present in individuals that claim
aren’t present in individuals that claim
aren’t present in individuals that claim to suffer from food addiction now this
to suffer from food addiction now this
to suffer from food addiction now this is where I came in this is when I began
is where I came in this is when I began
is where I came in this is when I began to be interested in research and I had
to be interested in research and I had
to be interested in research and I had been exposed to this controversy in
been exposed to this controversy in
been exposed to this controversy in social media and I’ve been exposed to it
social media and I’ve been exposed to it
social media and I’ve been exposed to it in the scientific field and I was really
in the scientific field and I was really
in the scientific field and I was really interested so when I started my research
interested so when I started my research
interested so when I started my research I started with a very simple question
I started with a very simple question
I started with a very simple question and that question was can their
and that question was can their
and that question was can their rewarding properties of food produce
rewarding properties of food produce
rewarding properties of food produce addiction now one of the hallmark
addiction now one of the hallmark
addiction now one of the hallmark features of addiction is compulsion and
features of addiction is compulsion and
features of addiction is compulsion and if you look at the definition of
if you look at the definition of
if you look at the definition of compulsion in the dictionary it is the
compulsion in the dictionary it is the
compulsion in the dictionary it is the irresistible urge to behave in a way
irresistible urge to behave in a way
irresistible urge to behave in a way that runs contrary to your Express
that runs contrary to your Express
that runs contrary to your Express conscious wishes in addiction we see
conscious wishes in addiction we see
conscious wishes in addiction we see this present as individuals that are
this present as individuals that are
this present as individuals that are unable to stop themselves from consuming
unable to stop themselves from consuming
unable to stop themselves from consuming a substance even if they no longer wish
a substance even if they no longer wish
a substance even if they no longer wish to and even if they no longer derive any
to and even if they no longer derive any
to and even if they no longer derive any enjoyment from doing so so I went back
enjoyment from doing so so I went back
enjoyment from doing so so I went back to my original question can the
to my original question can the
to my original question can the rewarding properties of food produce
rewarding properties of food produce
rewarding properties of food produce addiction and I modified it to can the
addiction and I modified it to can the
addiction and I modified it to can the rewarding properties of food produce
rewarding properties of food produce
rewarding properties of food produce compulsion this hallmark feature of
compulsion this hallmark feature of
compulsion this hallmark feature of addiction now to do this I used an
addiction now to do this I used an
addiction now to do this I used an already established model and I exposed
already established model and I exposed
already established model and I exposed animals rot specifically to a substance
animals rot specifically to a substance
animals rot specifically to a substance that is commonly found in food and also
that is commonly found in food and also
that is commonly found in food and also happens to be highly rewarding and that
happens to be highly rewarding and that
happens to be highly rewarding and that substance is refined white sugar and I
substance is refined white sugar and I
substance is refined white sugar and I expose these animals to a concentration
expose these animals to a concentration
expose these animals to a concentration that is commonly found in sweetened
that is commonly found in sweetened
that is commonly found in sweetened beverages so I used a 10% concentration
beverages so I used a 10% concentration
beverages so I used a 10% concentration and for comparison the average can of
and for comparison the average can of
and for comparison the average can of Pop has about 11% and I expose these
Pop has about 11% and I expose these
Pop has about 11% and I expose these animals to this concentration of sugar
animals to this concentration of sugar
animals to this concentration of sugar for 12 hours a day every day for about a
for 12 hours a day every day for about a
for 12 hours a day every day for about a month and some very interesting things
month and some very interesting things
month and some very interesting things happened the first is that they began to
happened the first is that they began to
happened the first is that they began to binge they were consuming about 5% of
binge they were consuming about 5% of
binge they were consuming about 5% of their body weight in the first hour
their body weight in the first hour
their body weight in the first hour every time they had access to the sugar
every time they had access to the sugar
every time they had access to the sugar now for comparison you can think of some
now for comparison you can think of some
now for comparison you can think of some in my size and my body weight drinking
in my size and my body weight drinking
in my size and my body weight drinking about three liters of pop or eating
about three liters of pop or eating
about three liters of pop or eating one-third of a kilo of sugar in one hour
one-third of a kilo of sugar in one hour
one-third of a kilo of sugar in one hour they also heavily escalated their intake
they also heavily escalated their intake
they also heavily escalated their intake over time by the end in a 12 hour period
over time by the end in a 12 hour period
over time by the end in a 12 hour period they were consuming roughly 1/5 of their
they were consuming roughly 1/5 of their
they were consuming roughly 1/5 of their body weight which again for comparison
body weight which again for comparison
body weight which again for comparison is someone like me consuming 13 liters
is someone like me consuming 13 liters
is someone like me consuming 13 liters of pop or 1.3 kilos of refined white
of pop or 1.3 kilos of refined white
of pop or 1.3 kilos of refined white sugar imagine drinking this or eating
sugar imagine drinking this or eating
sugar imagine drinking this or eating this every day so this was really
this every day so this was really
this every day so this was really shocking to me but what I was interested
shocking to me but what I was interested
shocking to me but what I was interested in was whether exposure to this amount
in was whether exposure to this amount
in was whether exposure to this amount of sugar could produce compulsion now
of sugar could produce compulsion now
of sugar could produce compulsion now unfortunately you can’t ask an animal
unfortunately you can’t ask an animal
unfortunately you can’t ask an animal are you addicted to something you can’t
are you addicted to something you can’t
are you addicted to something you can’t ask an animal are you compulsive so I
ask an animal are you compulsive so I
ask an animal are you compulsive so I had to put them in an evolutionarily
had to put them in an evolutionarily
had to put them in an evolutionarily relevant situation one that pit their
relevant situation one that pit their
relevant situation one that pit their instinctual mechanism for avoiding
instinctual mechanism for avoiding
instinctual mechanism for avoiding danger versus this learned behavior to
danger versus this learned behavior to
danger versus this learned behavior to seek out and consume sugar and when I
seek out and consume sugar and when I
seek out and consume sugar and when I did that the animals that have been
did that the animals that have been
did that the animals that have been consuming massive amounts of sugar
consuming massive amounts of sugar
consuming massive amounts of sugar completely ignored they completely
completely ignored they completely
completely ignored they completely overrode this instinctual mechanism in
overrode this instinctual mechanism in
overrode this instinctual mechanism in favor of seeking out sugar and this is
favor of seeking out sugar and this is
favor of seeking out sugar and this is something that normal healthy animals
something that normal healthy animals
something that normal healthy animals will not do but what was happening
will not do but what was happening
will not do but what was happening neurobiologically what was happening in
neurobiologically what was happening in
neurobiologically what was happening in their brains well there are some very
their brains well there are some very
their brains well there are some very specific changes that happen to a brain
specific changes that happen to a brain
specific changes that happen to a brain when it becomes addicted to a substance
when it becomes addicted to a substance
when it becomes addicted to a substance and the changes that happen are
and the changes that happen are
and the changes that happen are different depending on the type of brain
different depending on the type of brain
different depending on the type of brain area that you’re looking at the specific
area that you’re looking at the specific
area that you’re looking at the specific area that I was interested is implicated
area that I was interested is implicated
area that I was interested is implicated in survival-based motivated behaviors
in survival-based motivated behaviors
in survival-based motivated behaviors and it happens to sit between two other
and it happens to sit between two other
and it happens to sit between two other brain areas that have already been
brain areas that have already been
brain areas that have already been heavily implicated in the development of
heavily implicated in the development of
heavily implicated in the development of addiction
addiction
addiction the first is the amygdala which
the first is the amygdala which
the first is the amygdala which processes emotional and rewarding
processes emotional and rewarding
processes emotional and rewarding information and the other is the
information and the other is the
information and the other is the striatum which is responsible for
striatum which is responsible for
striatum which is responsible for reinforcement based learning and motor
reinforcement based learning and motor
reinforcement based learning and motor control now this area had actually
control now this area had actually
control now this area had actually already been looked at by a colleague of
already been looked at by a colleague of
already been looked at by a colleague of mine and he was looking at it in animals
mine and he was looking at it in animals
mine and he was looking at it in animals that self administered cocaine classic
that self administered cocaine classic
that self administered cocaine classic drug of abuse over a long period of time
drug of abuse over a long period of time
drug of abuse over a long period of time and he was able to show that there’s a
and he was able to show that there’s a
and he was able to show that there’s a very unique change that happens to the
very unique change that happens to the
very unique change that happens to the neurons in this brain area they respond
neurons in this brain area they respond
neurons in this brain area they respond very differently to dopamine which is
very differently to dopamine which is
very differently to dopamine which is the brains primary rewarding
the brains primary rewarding
the brains primary rewarding neurotransmitter then the neurons do in
neurotransmitter then the neurons do in
neurotransmitter then the neurons do in the brains of animals that had either
the brains of animals that had either
the brains of animals that had either had no exposure to cocaine or had been
had no exposure to cocaine or had been
had no exposure to cocaine or had been exposed to cocaine but weren’t self
exposed to cocaine but weren’t self
exposed to cocaine but weren’t self administering it for a long period of
administering it for a long period of
administering it for a long period of time now when I looked at this brain
time now when I looked at this brain
time now when I looked at this brain area in my animals to my astonishment I
area in my animals to my astonishment I
area in my animals to my astonishment I found exactly the same change in their
found exactly the same change in their
found exactly the same change in their brains as what was happening in animals
brains as what was happening in animals
brains as what was happening in animals that were self administering cocaine so
that were self administering cocaine so
that were self administering cocaine so what’s happening what does this mean
what’s happening what does this mean
what’s happening what does this mean well our brains are highly evolved
well our brains are highly evolved
well our brains are highly evolved adapted organs and our brains have
adapted organs and our brains have
adapted organs and our brains have evolved to seek out rewarding substances
evolved to seek out rewarding substances
evolved to seek out rewarding substances and perform rewarding behaviors because
and perform rewarding behaviors because
and perform rewarding behaviors because in our evolutionary history that meant
in our evolutionary history that meant
in our evolutionary history that meant survival things like having sex eating
survival things like having sex eating
survival things like having sex eating good food avoiding danger
good food avoiding danger
good food avoiding danger unfortunately this highly adapted system
unfortunately this highly adapted system
unfortunately this highly adapted system when it’s exposed to unnaturally
when it’s exposed to unnaturally
when it’s exposed to unnaturally reinforcing substances like drugs
reinforcing substances like drugs
reinforcing substances like drugs this formerly adaptive process becomes
this formerly adaptive process becomes
this formerly adaptive process becomes maladaptive there’s this war going on
maladaptive there’s this war going on
maladaptive there’s this war going on between our evolved biology that pushes
between our evolved biology that pushes
between our evolved biology that pushes us to consume rewarding substances and
us to consume rewarding substances and
us to consume rewarding substances and pushes us to perform rewarding behaviors
pushes us to perform rewarding behaviors
pushes us to perform rewarding behaviors versus our modern environment a society
versus our modern environment a society
versus our modern environment a society in which unnaturally reinforcing
in which unnaturally reinforcing
in which unnaturally reinforcing substances are plentifully available
substances are plentifully available
substances are plentifully available this is why we are starting to see
this is why we are starting to see
this is why we are starting to see addictions to things that are
addictions to things that are
addictions to things that are fundamentally new
fundamentally new
fundamentally new you to our modern society addictions to
you to our modern society addictions to
you to our modern society addictions to things like gambling to videogames and
things like gambling to videogames and
things like gambling to videogames and to food now there’s still quite a bit of
to food now there’s still quite a bit of
to food now there’s still quite a bit of controversy in the scientific literature
controversy in the scientific literature
controversy in the scientific literature about what exactly the properties of
about what exactly the properties of
about what exactly the properties of food are that can produce addiction but
food are that can produce addiction but
food are that can produce addiction but I think in general as a society we need
I think in general as a society we need
I think in general as a society we need to start thinking about addiction beyond
to start thinking about addiction beyond
to start thinking about addiction beyond drugs we need to stop having such a
drugs we need to stop having such a
drugs we need to stop having such a rigid idea of what the substances are
rigid idea of what the substances are
rigid idea of what the substances are that can produce addiction we need to
that can produce addiction we need to
that can produce addiction we need to stop thinking about it as drugs versus
stop thinking about it as drugs versus
stop thinking about it as drugs versus other because really any highly
other because really any highly
other because really any highly rewarding substance or behavior can
rewarding substance or behavior can
rewarding substance or behavior can produce the same behavioral and
produce the same behavioral and
produce the same behavioral and neurological things that we see in
neurological things that we see in
neurological things that we see in addiction we need to start thinking of
addiction we need to start thinking of
addiction we need to start thinking of addiction as a very old brains way of
addiction as a very old brains way of
addiction as a very old brains way of trying to deal with a very new problem
trying to deal with a very new problem
trying to deal with a very new problem so I want you to do something for me
so I want you to do something for me
so I want you to do something for me when you leave here today I want you to
when you leave here today I want you to
when you leave here today I want you to just be aware and when you see hotly
just be aware and when you see hotly
just be aware and when you see hotly debated topics like this one in social
debated topics like this one in social
debated topics like this one in social media and other spheres I want you to
media and other spheres I want you to
media and other spheres I want you to think and I want you to question and I
think and I want you to question and I
think and I want you to question and I want you to investigate because as I
want you to investigate because as I
want you to investigate because as I found out addiction doesn’t necessarily
found out addiction doesn’t necessarily
found out addiction doesn’t necessarily look like what it used to anymore
look like what it used to anymore
look like what it used to anymore thank you
thank you
thank you you
you
you [Applause]
”
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