Ever wonder why addiction works in a cycle? The answer could be all in your head.

This week’s guest Judith Grisel took her first drink of alcohol at 13, and soon began using other addictive drugs. In less than a decade, her life completely transformed, ending up in a drug treatment centre. After learning about the disease model of addiction, and getting clean and sober, she went on to earn a Ph.D. in behavioural neuroscience.

Now a professor at Bucknell University, Judith’s expertise lies in pharmacology, genetics and understanding the neural liability for substance use disorders.

Listen in as Judy delves into her personal experience with drug addiction, and how it led to a career in neuroscience. She will also inform us on how drugs co-opt the brain circuits critical for normal development.