The Alcohol 'Problem' Podcast

In this episode, we discuss how addiction affects families, the challenges of supporting a loved one, and practical, evidence-based approaches to  conversations with others who may be experiencing addiction problems.  Richard Velleman is Emeritus Professor of Mental Health Research at the University of Bath, Co-Director of the Addictions and Related Research Group at Sangath (India), and a founder...

In this episode I talk to Professor Hanna Pickard about addiction, identity and denial, and how these are relevant to understanding and treating alcohol problems. Hanna Pickard is Bloomberg Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Bioethics and Krieger-Eisenhower Professor at Johns Hopkins University. In addition to her wok as a philosopher and as a therapist, she has  published extensively on th...

In this episode we discuss alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD), what it is, its treatment, and hear Lesley's experience as a survivor of ARLD and transplant. Lesley was a patient of Dr Ashwin Dhanda, a liver specialist, and both provide their insights into the condition and how society should do more to raise awareness of and prevent alcohol-related harm and ARLD. Ashwin Dhanda is Professor...

In this episode I speak to Nathan Joseph , an online fitness coach and author of The LCA method recipe book .  Nathan discusses his own personal journey through battling mental health issues, and how alcohol has played both positive and negative roles in his life. In Nathan's experience, alcohol use has been a big part of his social life and important memories, but also a barrier to his fitne...

In this episode I talk to Dr Gabriel Caluzzi about drink spiking, methanol poisoning & young people's drinking.  Dr Caluzzi is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research at La Trobe University. His interests include youth and gendered drinking practices, and he recently co-authored the book “Young People, Alcohol, and Risk: A Culture of Caution”. For further reading on dr...

In this episode I talk to Prof. Georg Schomerus, Professor and Chair at the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Leipzig. Prof Schomerus is a leading academic in the field of stigma towards alcohol and mental health problems. We discuss the nature of stigma towards alcohol problems, what drives stigma, how it relates to social behaviours and wider world events, and what can be...

In this episode, Aunee Bhogaita, shares her lived experience of alcohol problems and recovery. Aunee is a South Asian woman who has empowered herself through her experiences of sexual abuse, domestic abuse and alcohol addiction in order to challenge stigma and taboo surrounding these issues and help others. We discuss her early experiences of trauma as laying the foundations for her alcohol proble...

In this episode, we talk to Prof. Roy Baumeister about the psychology of alcohol use and addiction. We cover topics such as why people drink, the effects of alcohol, the role of emotions such as guilt, and how self-control works.  Prof Baumeister is one of the most eminent living psychologists with over 40 books and 700 scientific publications. His book "Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest...

In this episode we talk to Mark Holmes and Mike Ward about the Blue Light approach, which aims to challenge the belief that nothing can be done with drinkers who may be deemed as 'not wanting to change'.  The Blue Light approach aims to show there are a range of positive strategies that can be used to manage risk, reduce harm and promote change. We discuss the ideas and myths behind &apo...

In this episode we talk to Dr James Nicholls about how drinking came to be such a significant part of many modern cultures. We discuss how alcohol use and problems have evolved over recent centuries, and how this reflects various political and social pressures. This includes how drinking escalated with the development of alcohol production, and how laws, consumers and attitudes have shaped drinkin...

In this episode we talk to Prof Katie Witkiewitz about non-abstinent recovery and the role of drinking reductions in reducing alcohol-related harm. We discuss this from both a public health perspective, and the role of abstinence or drinking reduction goals in the context of treatment and recovery.  Professor Katie Witkiewitz is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology and the Director of the Cente...

In this episode Jem Roberts, Communications Manager at the Institute of Alcohol Studies, interviews our host Dr James Morris. The episode was originally produced by the Institute of Alcohol Studies . They discuss how the model of alcoholism evolved and led to beliefs about alcohol problems being heavily focused on the severe end of the spectrum. Dr Morris discusses how  despite helping many people...

In this episode we discuss alcohol treatment with two highly experienced practitioners, Dr Luke Mitcheson and Dr Mike Kelleher. We cover key components of effective treatment, mental health and other important issues, and other important issues such as the importance of the individual in leading their recovery.  Dr Luke Mitcheson is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, South London and Maudsley NHS...

In this episode we talk to Millie Gooch, founder of Sober Girl Society. Millie talks about her journey to sobriety and how this led her to setting up alcohol free spaces and events for the sober curious. We discuss the current role of sobriety and possible reasons behind recent growth in sobriety movements, mindful drinking and other alcohol-free communities.  As a journalist, Millie has written f...

In this episode we talk to Joe Heeney about his life and experience of alcohol problems and recovery. Joe is a former CEO of Resolve , a drug and alcohol treatment service based in Hertfordshire, which he founded in 2008 after experiencing his own drug and alcohol issues. Joe worked for 14 years in the Fire Brigade at a time when heavy drinking was normalised. Joe is now retired and lives in the P...

In this episode Dr James Morris evaluates the Huberman Lab's alcohol episode , particularly addressing why the language and terms used around alcohol problems are important. For instance, whilst the Huberman Lab's episode provides a detailed description of the ways alcohol can affect the brain, body and health, in using alcoholism terminology it overlooks a number of important issues. No...

In this episode we explore what Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is and how it works. First we talk to Dr Hannah Glassman, a qualitative researcher and psychologist who has published multiple studies on experiences of people in AA. Next we talk to Prof John F Kelly who has conducted extensive research into how recovery and AA groups work. We examine a range of issues including the history of AA, expectat...

In this episode we talk to Prof. Matt Field about the evidence behind Dry January and temporary abstinence. We discuss what is known about the possible health and other benefits for drinkers from  temporarily abstaining from alcohol.  This includes who temporary abstinence may or may not be suitable for and implications for understanding drinking and alcohol addiction or dependence. Professor Matt...

In this episode Professor Tony Moss talks about key drivers of drinking behaviour and alcohol-related risks, problems and causes. This covers how alcohol use can develop into addiction, and the complex nature of associated problems and the range of psychological, social and sometime biological factors involved. Prof Tony Moss is a  Professor of Addictive Behaviour Science in the Centre for Addicti...

 In this episode we speak to Jon Ashworth MP about his experience and views of parental alcohol problems and affected others, as well as parliamentary drinking culture, alcohol policy and related issues. Jon has spoken openly about his father's alcohol problems which lead to his death in 2010. He has campaigned and supported a range of action to help people affected by parental drinking, incl...

In this episode we talk to Dr Marc Lewis ,  a neuroscientist and former professor of developmental psychology. We explore what addiction is from a neuroscience perspective, including why Marc does not consider it a disease, despite changes to the brain. We discuss how addiction relates to habit, compulsion, and how these can be understood as functions of the brain and human behaviour. Marc also ta...

In this episode we talk to Dr Cassie Boness about the idea of ‘Alcohol Use Disorder’ (AUD) as a widely applied concept in the identification and treatment of alcohol problems. Alcohol Use Disorder is the basis for identifying an alcohol problem in the American Psychiatric Association’s DSM, but also used as a broader term for alcohol-related problems including by the UK’s National Institute for He...

In this episode we talk to Dr Lucy Foulkes about labelling and language in the context of mental health and alcohol issues.  We discuss how labels like alcoholic or schizophrenia may serve an important role for people to identify or respond to problems, but also carry important implications for stigma and recovery. We explore how there are many similarities between the pros and cons of labelling i...

In this episode we explore alcohol use and problems amongst older adults. Alcohol problems have been rising in recent decades amongst older drinkers, despite falls in consumption in other age groups. We talk to Dr Sarah Wadd , a researcher at the University of Bedfordshire, about some of the reasons behind alcohol problems amongst older adults and what can be done. John Slater also talks about his...

In this episode I talk to two guests about the risks of alcohol use and attempts to communicate these via the UK's recommended guidelines of 14 units a week . Firstly I talk to Tom Chivers ,  science editor at UnHerd and author. We talk about how the risks of alcohol use can or should be evaluated and communicated. Tom recently co-authored a book How to read numbers which includes a Statistic...