From Genes to Addiction: How Risk Unfolds Across the Lifespan | Dr. Danielle Dick | TEDxRVA

What does it mean when something like addiction or depression is genetically influenced? Are people who are at risk destined to develop problems? Psycologist Danielle Dick explores how our genes and our environments come together across the lifespan to create multiple pathways that can influence addiction.
#addiction #mentalhealth #behavior #genetics
This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. It was filmed and edited by Tijo Media at the Carpenter Theatre at Dominion Arts Center in Richmond, VA.
Dr. Danielle Dick is a Professor in Psychology, African American Studies, and Human and Molecular Genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her research examines genetic contributions to substance use and mental health outcomes, and how the importance of genetic predispositions changes in different environments. She has received millions of dollars of grant funding from the National Institutes of Health and won numerous national and international awards for her research. She founded and directs the College Behavioral and Emotional Health Institute and runs a study called Spit for Science with nearly 10,000 college students taking part.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@awayinfinite3873]

My dad is alcoholic, my grandparents were too. I am in my 20s and never once drink any kind of alcohol because I am too afraid of become an alcoholic, and I can live perfectly fine without it

[@scottsheff]

Incredibly good idea

[@aleksandram981]

YAY! DONT GO NEAR IT!! You would definitely be at a higher risk of addiction. Also avoid any medications that can get you high! Including uppers and downers (I’m sadly addicted to opiods.. you wouldn’t know it though)

[@milkmangaming3325]

addiction isn't caused by genes but more from your childhood and trauma, alcoholism runs in my family to and I'm able to drink, but only socially. if i drink alone then it just feels bland and isn't fun, i just become sick. so you should be able to drink with friends as long as you are aware of all your traumas and have spent years working on them so you don't use alcohol as a cope mechanism.

[@robinberry4957]

Good for you!!!!

[@awayinfinite3873]

​@@milkmangaming3325 totally. I just don't feel like anything good comes from alcohol, I can have fun without drinking and luckily my friends understand that

[@AimeeDenise_bct]

So much respect to all those helping others heal. It's a true calling. I absolutely found my purpose as well in telling my story from years of complete despair to healing my brain and getting my life back! 💟🦋🕉

[@DeborahSRocha-fo6ti]

Good to hear finding your purpose was part of your path to healing your brain and a life you want to live! So many struggle to choose healthy environments, impacting the brain illnesses even more!

[@elijahdunmore7526]

HI THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS VIDEO I JUST WANTED TO DROP A FEW LINES ON MY JOURNEY I WILL BE SOBER FOR 2 YEARS AND 11 MONTHS AS OF THIS FEBRUARY 6-2023 THE ENVIRONMENT I GREW UP IN DRINK LOTS OF ALCOHOL I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN AND I WAS A PART OF THAT ENVIRONMENT IT TOOK ME YEARS TO STOP DRINKING ALCOHOL I AM SO PROUD OF MYSELF FOR STAYING AWAY FROM THAT POSIN YOU CAN DO IT ONE DAY AT A TIME THANK AGAIN FOR SHARING ❤❤❤

[@tanyamontebello1085]

That's awesome, Elijah! 😃

[@jhthorn7174]

Thank you for carrying on a necessary message.

[@melissawright7843]

great video. I'm going to share in my S.U.D group today. Knowledge is power.

[@user-J250]

Genetic mutations will tell you the majority of what you need but environmental factors are also important. But good ol’ neurotransmitters still play one of the bigger roles in addiction those who produce “higher Glutamate” with “lower gaba” tend to be much more prone to alcohol addiction.

[@lindajakub624]

Interesting

[@dougdougy5134]

6:56 "fun seeking & highly impulsive" = ADHD

[@jasonjerome8740]

I'm an alcoholic, my father is, his sister is, and their parents were too.

[@Brickwood70]

Lack of boundaries

[@lindajakub624]

I had m uch trauma as a child. My kid's had trauma. 3 if 5 are addicts. Oldest is 50. I don't know how to help them. Reparenting obviously is not an option. So much PAIN

[@keeganmoonshine7183]

dammit now Pain by three days grace is stuck in my head. PAAAIIIIN, WITHOUT LOVE!

[@patmureithi]

💙

[@lindajakub624]

My father, his mother, his uncles, my mother's father , her brother, all difficult people and or alcoholics. Trauma, genetics???

[@keeganmoonshine7183]

my dad doesn't drink often and I don't either. We both get really bad headaches/migraines when we drink alcohol. I've always wondered about that.

[@robinberry4957]

Both

[@jacquelinerowdy]

I think the depressive brain is the same as the addicted brain. I think addiction is enherrited in genes. So all addiction is the same but it exhibit in different addictions. I also think the depressive brain is addicted to extreme hormone swings? ( don't know hormone is the right trigger or addictive factor?) The reason is extreme stress/emotion for a long time. Wich makes the addictive brain addictive to the swings. I think dopamine levels could be they key factor. But I am far from a specialist so I cannot explain why besides I geth that feeling about googling and analyse everything. I post this text here to hope some specialist are willing to give feedback or research this topic. Thank you

[@jacquelinerowdy]

And maybe the key factor could be an Inflammation to the brain or genes? Again I don't know because I have to less knowledge about this.

[@iamphanta]

6:30 5:25

[@key88crazy]

Just my opinion, but this presentation reveals basically nothing. Nothing said has any novelty in the field of addiction, nor does any content in this video help students of this discipline what so ever.

[@jlareaux5504]

I agree. The best and most novel information on the topic of addiction/recovery I’ve come across in recent years is the work of Paul Hedderman. Gabor Mate, and Johan Hari are of course great too...

[@stevereichert1292]

First, this comment is posted with respect. Jason, perhaps you should give your own TedTalk and give us the benefit of your knowledge.

[@key88crazy]

​@@stevereichert1292 First, you only use the word "first" as a sentence adverb when your retort includes a "second" or subsequent thought pertaining to the clause replied to in the first (adverb) place. Second (the part you omitted), are you suggesting that only someone who is an authority on a topic is qualified to comment on a video posted to social media? I guess you missed the first three words of my comment, which were "Just my opinion". Those words are meant to frame my comment as "the initial thoughts that conjured in my head while I was watching the video subjectively".. Do you have an issue with me airing my initial thoughts about the video? If so, why? Is this not social media? Third, you start your comment to my comment with "this comment is posted with respect", and while Id like to believe this is true, I don't see how telling someone they are not allowed an opinion on something until after they give their own presentation about the topic is respectful. I assume you have given a ted talk on the subject of every video to which you have added a comment on KZbin, yes?

[@annalisette5897]

Well.......OK.....but people will still continue to get caught into addictions. Research need to find the physiological causes and cures for addictions.

[@lindajakub624]

Childhood trauma.

[@kellyparker6901]

Low parental monitoring sounds like blaming the parent. We had a child that was very loved and appropriately monitored yet substance abuse devastated her. Maybe it’s because we don’t have Generals and fighter pilots in our family.

[@aleksandram981]

Honestly it’s probably genetics! She may of had a wild card and was susceptible to addiction genetically. Is there any addiction in yours or your husbands family? Addiction runs in mine and unfortunately I’m addicted to Opiods. You wouldn’t know it though!

[@siarrasmith2965]

I disagree, low parental monitoring is a huge reason on why teens continue to drink. If their parents have no idea what they're doing or who they are doing it with then it would only increase the child's substance usage. It is the parent's responsibility to monitor their child and know what the child is up to. If that's too big of a responsibility then people need to stop becoming parents, period.

[@cazador1022]

Hmmmm Interesting GOVERNMENT REGISTRY.....by law

[@chancerobinson5237]

I think it's silly to think you can be born with a mind sets. knowledge can not be inherited for example, a person grows up around smokers than becomes a smoker. That doesn't mean they have a genetic link or inherited the knowledge of addiction it means they have grown up around it therefore more likely to do it(environmental). Doesn't mean they where born to do it. You can use language as a example. You can get a baby who's parents and grandparents ect ect speak English and that baby will learn to speak a different language just as well as it would've learnt English if the baby grew up with that different language. Silly to say that because your parents, grandparents are addicts that you yourself have addictive genes, do we have genes that predispose you to different languages and mind sets?

[@robertafierro5592]

It has alot to do with the child's friends.

[@rub9812]

Environment is a portion, genetics is another. Trauma and experiences are passed down through genes. It’s all in epigenetics!!

[@FreeAsABeast]

I love the zipper on her dress 👗

[@greymatter666]

nice legs

[@brendonprice5194]

Anrorld the goat