The Science of Addiction and Recovery | Dr Russell Surasky

The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show

Dr. Gabrielle Lyon

Life Sciences, Health & Fitness, Science, Medicine

4.5 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 December 2024

⏱️ 112 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In this episode of The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Show, Dr. Lyon is joined by Dr. Russell Surasky, a board-certified neurologist and addiction specialist, to discuss one of the most pressing issues of our time: addiction. With a deeply personal connection to the topic, Dr. Surasky sheds light on the reality of addiction as a chronic brain disease and dispels the myths that have fueled stigma for decades.

Dr. Surasky explains how addiction fundamentally alters brain function, the role of genetic susceptibility, and why opioids—particularly fentanyl—pose an unprecedented threat. He shares actionable insights into treatment options, including the promise of medication-assisted therapies like Vivitrol, and how families and society can better support individuals struggling with addiction.

This episode is essential for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of addiction and how we can combat the opioid epidemic through science, compassion, and innovation.

We dive into:

Why addiction is a brain disease, not a moral failure or lack of willpower
The alarming rise of fentanyl and how it has changed the landscape of addiction
How genetic predispositions influence addiction risk and potential
The critical differences between physical dependency and true addiction
Cutting-edge treatments for addiction
Strategies for families to navigate addiction and support recovery

Who is Dr. Russell Surasky?

Dr. Russell Surasky is a dual board-certified neurologist and addiction specialist who combines his expertise in brain science with a compassionate approach to treating addiction. With years of experience in understanding how substances hijack the brain's reward system, Dr. Surasky has become a leading voice in addiction medicine.

Driven by a personal tragedy, Dr. Surasky works tirelessly to raise awareness about the science of addiction, reduce stigma, and offer hope through innovative treatment options. His mission is to ensure that addiction is understood as a treatable medical condition, not a moral failing.

Find Dr. Russell Surasky at:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russellsuraskymd/

His website: http://www.drsurasky.com/

This episode is brought to you by:

Puori - Code DRLYON for 20% OFF - https://puori.com/DRLYON

Our Place - Code DRLYON for 10% OFF - http://fromourplace.com/DRLYON

ARMRA - Code DRLYON for 15% OFF - https://tryarmra.com/DRLYON

AG1 - Special Black Friday Gift & FREE TRAVEL PACK! - https://drinkAG1.com/LYON

Divi - Code DRLYON for 20% OFF - https://diviofficial.com/DRLYON

👉 Like, Share, and Subscribe for more expert insights into health and wellness!

Instagram: @drgabriellelyon

Tik Tok: @drgabriellelyon

Facebook: facebook.com/doctorgabriellelyon

YouTube: youtube.com/@DrGabrielleLyon

Disclaimer: The Dr. Gabrielle Lyon Podcast and YouTube are for general information purposes only and do not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing, or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no doctor/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this podcast, YouTube, or materials linked from this podcast or YouTube is at the user's own risk. The content of this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their health care professional for any such conditions.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to the Dr. Gabriel Lyon Show, where cutting edge science meets innovation and practical application for anybody.
0:07.8	If you or someone you love or know or have encountered has suffered with addiction, this podcast episode with Dr. Russell Sarraski is for you.
0:19.5	This is a critical podcast to raise awareness on addiction,
0:23.8	opioid addiction, alcohol addiction, any of the things that can ruin lives. Please,
0:30.5	sit down with me with Dr. Russell Sarowski.
0:38.9	Russell Sorowski, thank you so much for coming on the show.
0:42.4	I believe that you are going to share with the listeners one of the most powerful messages
0:47.2	that we have heard.
0:49.6	You know, we talk all about on this podcast health and wellness longevity, but I think that there are very few things that kill someone in an instant.
1:00.4	And you're going to address that.
1:01.5	In fact, you have a book that says, this book will save your life.
1:05.0	Welcome to the show.
1:06.2	That's correct.
1:07.2	I'm thrilled to be here.
1:08.2	Thank you so much for having me.
1:09.3	You are a board-certified neurologist and addiction physician, addiction specialist, addiction doctor.
1:16.1	And tell me what is it that you want the world to know?
1:21.5	Well, first of all, that addiction is a brain disease.
1:26.7	This is not an issue of a moral problem or a poor upbringing or a weakness of character or a psychological problem. It is a chronic relapsing brain disease. And so, so says my clinical experience, as well as now the American Society of Addiction Medicine defines it that
1:45.5	way. We know from brain scans that we have now like PET scans that there are fundamental changes in the
1:52.6	brain of somebody who has addiction. And we also see it clinically. We have medicines now that can
1:58.8	target very specific receptors in the brain.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Dr. Gabrielle Lyon, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Dr. Gabrielle Lyon and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.