Drugs, sex, food, it’s not about the object and it may not even be chemical.

What really causes addiction — to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome it?

Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do — and if there might be a better way. As he shares in this deeply personal talk, his questions took him around the world, and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem.

TED Talk: 14:42

Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong | Johann Hari | TED Talks

Most of this Ted talk pertains to drug addiction, yet at the 12 minute mark he says an important point. Society and people, are lonely, disconnected, and unattached. Generations of broken families, the creation of global work, and a lack of purpose in a community leads people to feel “lost.” A new generaltional culture of individualism means many people feel alone even when they’re in relationships.

What is the answer? Is true healing only available through connection with family?