Why some of us are addicts | Robert Lefever | TEDxWarwickSalon

Dr Robert Lefever changes our perception on addictions and shares his method of treating addictions.
Dr Robert Lefever founded the first NHS group practice in the South Kensington area, one of the first private diagnostic centres in London and possibly the first rehab in the world to treat all addictions non-medicinally.
He is regarded as the pioneer of modern addiction treatment methods in rehab centres in the UK. In the last 26 years he has worked with thousands of inpatients suffering from various forms of addictive and compulsive behaviour as well as stress and depression.
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

[@drannamd]

Workaholism is also an addiction. This addiction is rewarded by our society, especially in medicine.

[@oliveoil4380]

Yes. In law, too.

[@brittaolson6550]

It’s funny how doctors judge people with addictions so much and, yet, do so much coke.

[@bachelor2346]

Fact.

[@maxinahunt8652]

And veterinary medicine.

[@GemmaJadeYT]

Addiction is a disease that tells us we aren’t sick. That’s one of the truest things I’ve heard in my 9 months of sobriety. This guy is awesome btw!!

[@DoubleRainbows-fp6ih]

De- Nile The longest river- I heard a person share in a 12 Step meeting. Id add: a river with the greatest depths and twists. Or DENIAL.

[@evelynbaron2004]

I tried so hard to be sober without involving myself in AA; sponsor; the 12 steps, volunteering etc. It was terrifying but everything I've ever accomplished required overcoming fear and dogged determination. So thankful for this talk!

[@Jeslieness]

Congrats on your nine months--keep up the good work!

[@davinastanton3865]

Congratulations Harley on your 9 month's of being clean. And everyone else who is doing this. With love. 💗

[@davinastanton3865]

@@evelynbaron2004 How are you Evelyn? You are in my thoughts. 💗

[@MorryM2012]

Nothing like hearing an addict speak about addicts. This guy is spot on and very pleasant to listen to, in his manner. Very enjoyable.

[@EnglishTeacher1998]

He's awful. Talking about "the destructive idiots we were born to be"? That's abusive. And this idea that only addicts can help other addicts has its roots in terrible places like Synanon. Google it.

[@stuartmatheson4746]

​@@EnglishTeacher1998 horrendous isn't it the beleif of misinformation on the Internet.

[@CalebMcFarland]

People have a strong desire to angrily blame addicts. It seems like it makes them feel like they are strong people because they aren't addicted. While, in reality, they probably are addicted to something, just not drugs or alcohol. People have a nasty desire to try to feel good about themselves by condemning others.

[@mcarthylayne7451]

Especially those of the Abrahamic religions.

[@diesel5355]

Caleb McFarland dumb. I might be addicted to sugar and KZbin, but I've never robbed and killed someone for it. the biggest problem with drug and alcohol addiction isn't the addiction itself, but the disgusting conduct that comes with it.

[@hotdog7988]

Spot on, and your last sentence could be the worst type of addiction of all and spans across all parts of life and effects everybody. If anybody wants to become a better person, address this.

[@chaucerparks5941]

Caleb McFarland PREACH!!!👍👍

[@tashadevans4653]

Caleb McFarland lol

[@danisaksson3214]

I agree with a lot, but I think an important aspect missing from this is generational trauma. If you have grown up in a home of addicts you don't generally learn, nor will you be taught by your parents by example, about how to approach emotional dilemmas. I believe this has a profound impact on us as we enter our teens and adulthood.

[@noelkemmy1694]

I'm exactly like this man. qualified therapist in the field. I'm also getting through a relapse. addiction is a beast.

[@noelkemmy1694]

I'm on a stabilisation/slow detox off codeine/Valium. I don't drink/use street drugs, haven't in years. my main addiction is c/v. I worked as a therapist in this field when I was recovering. so I'm receiving help and plan B is treatment again .

[@noelkemmy1694]

yes Duran, I am.

[@noelkemmy1694]

the Durans, four days now

[@kevinramsey9758]

I'm a retread also - way better this time. It took me three tries in 22 yrs. to find solid sobriety. If you keep trying you will get past the things that you missed before.

[@evelynbaron2004]

O Noel, it's the journey, NEVER give up!!!!!

[@willhelmberkly3025]

This man was surely a fearsome thing to behold in his prime.

[@davinastanton3865]

Love the Addict. Hate the Addiction. 💗

[@valerieoconnor4462]

That's a beautiful quote 😊

[@dennisgriggs2994]

This has been one of my favorite talks on addiction. This man made the most sense.

[@sidecrank]

At last someone who knows addiction! Thank you.

[@charleswomack2166]

I am a recovering addict for alcohol, nicotine and opioids. I have been clean & sober for 6 years now. I reccomend the 12 steps program to anyone- regardless of addiction or what type of addiction.

[@roysb_2628]

I tend to lend more credit to the view by which addiction's root cause lays with childhood trauma. Thanks for sharing this.

[@championette..]

I share your views... do you follow the work of Dr. Gabor Maté as well?

[@jetsetter8541]

Dr. Robert Lefever . Presented the best understanding of addiction and his approach should be the model of the right way to withdraw from addictions.

[@rdallas81]

I have been addicted to many things and substances.....only way I was able to deal with myself.....until I discovered myself over years of work and research... I am healthier now than ever at about 40 years old....I.have migraines (my first addiction, to oxycontin)......then many other things all stemming from that addiction at the start.....other addictions and meds to combat other effects of meds. Which lead to smoking, depression and suicide thoughts. I am 38, non smoker after 20 years of smoking, no drinking in years.... But I do use thc at night when needed. Good luck people. You are your worst enemy.....be friends instead....you will come out better, and alive.

[@victoriasantos4383]

What profound words, this ted talk is severely under appreciated!

[@matthewholden1784]

He's the first person with a comb over to be a cool dude. Great talk

[@navysteve95]

Don't hate the combover hate hate alopecia

[@matthewholden1784]

@@navysteve95 lol nah I'm planning on getting a comb over now after watching this talk. He's inspired and educated me in more ways than one. Own the comb over own oneself

[@navysteve95]

@@matthewholden1784 will you be my Spiritual Mentor? Not since David Carradine has been able to reach me Until now Did we just become Best Friends?

[@matthewholden1784]

@@navysteve95 yes we did. I will answer ANY query and pour water on any fear you may have concerning your life Steve Calderbank. It will all be OK. Watch Tyson Fury v Deontay Wilder tonight, I think if Tyson doesn't accept his fear and let himself run and out point him like last fight then he's going to be a rabbit in the headlights and get knocked out.

[@navysteve95]

@@matthewholden1784 it doesn't get any perfecter than that huh?

[@CoventGardenbeats]

Group therapy is key! Getting a sponsor is groundbreaking for a narcotic addict.

[@basslin3r]

Didn't work for me

[@reresimone4300]

lefever, owner of the rehab i went to. 3 times. now 16 years clean. must have helped somehow. (guys if you are sick...stay home).

[@Thedistressedpainter]

I’m so impressed w this articulate man. Thank you for giving me hope and understanding

[@workshop3301]

Listening to persons in the audience coughing without abandon is bone chilling in 2021

[@westcoastorbust2462]

This!

[@arebeabridgewater9965]

I am a Diabetic addicted to sugar. People don't understand but it's like I crave it more than anything.

[@ritagamez3732]

Probiotics helps me with my cravings, and suppresses my appetite, but they were too much for my system, so I pretty stopped using them. The carbs., are what increases the cravings. Stop the sugar/carbs., and stop the cravings. My problem is, I don’t like to eat. I will choose a dessert, any day, for a regular meal. I’m still a sugar addict. I have been battling it all my life.

[@LoneGranger]

Was this at a cold and cough conference? Geez

[@Nick-li4jr]

😂

[@iamanempoweredone6064]

Boy am I grateful for the ability to forget.

[@sharonhall8719]

I would be interested to hear a conversation between this man and Gabor Mate

[@amirtamaddon9432]

OMG YESSSSS

[@Stepjer75]

What I find interesting is that I used to eat and drink a lot of sugar, which I had to learn to stop by focusing on something else; in my case it is exercise, cycling sportives and gym work, which gives me what I need... And has replaced my sugar dependency. I find it interesting that he links sugar dependency and exercise together: so, if I want to avoid becoming Diabetic in older life, I must keep up my sporting endeavors.

[@annel.7448]

wonderful approach ! And a different point of view, compared with all that I have heard about addictions. And all these various teachings allow us to come closer and closer to the core of the problem. I've heard very interesting things on TEDx talks, and I'm gratefull to all of you. I'm myself a discreet addict therapist, and I agree with you: addicts, just like gifted children, have to be understood and not judged, and it is impossible to understand with the conscious mind only, and without feeling it deeply. You don't learn feelings in books or at university... Thank you for sharing your experience :-)

[@S24312]

As someone working in addiction I am sharing your words as they are so relevant ! 👍🇬🇧👍

[@oliveoil4380]

This man is lovely and wise and kind.

[@heatherbartholomew8403]

I think it is best an addict be treated by an ex active addict I know alot of doctors that do not understand it! It is one of those things you have to experience to know! You cannot just read and do research you will never understand!

[@stephaniedegange2737]

so very true

[@heatherbartholomew8403]

I meant to put non active lol! Somebody that has alot of clean time!

[@EnglishTeacher1998]

They'd better have a lot of education, degrees, and medical knowledge as well.

[@nickp9994]

“The therapeutic value of one addict helping another is without parallel”

[@stephaniedegange2737]

God bless you...thank you

[@carolinewebster6167]

Amazing. Thank you Dr.

[@patricemarie2960]

.... Without "Brain Power" .... "Connection" ... "Research", .... "Good Intuition" ... We can't get anywhere! ... THANK YOU .... TED!

[@TonyKeepingItClean]

I learn a lot from these videos, being a recovering addict myself. Thank you.

[@renae6263]

Thank you so much for your talk! I've been listening to talks on addiction for a really long time as I am one. Have been to many treatment facilities an never heard anyone say this! All of it was eye opening. An have to say one if the best things which I totally agree with is we have a disease of Perception! The way we perceive things is different from "normal" people. I'm hoping you have more talks on KZbin I'm going to chk it our. Thank you so much!

[@raduarfloe8528]

Such a brilliant man

[@jacobsmith2394]

This gentleman is spot on! It totally makes sense when he talks about the nuero- transmission..the disease of addiction is neurologically transmitted through the genes from addicts in the addicts family tree

[@echamber]

This guy is amazing

[@wgmentis9906]

wow! such a speech!

[@JohnHewak]

You are awesome my friend

[@DoubleRainbows-fp6ih]

I agree about EMDR . It is an astounding therapy. I believe it addresses the deep TRAUMAS from addiction but Also any other traumas too. I can now revisit terrible bullying incidents and feel very little pain.

[@evelynbaron2004]

I've never encountered EMDR; I do mindfulness meditation, AA, volunteer on the phone, soup kitchen because I simply love to cook, and take my wonder Peke to old age homes, because I lost my Dad to Alzheimers. There is something profoundly healing about accepting one's past. Will look into EMDR, tx!!!

[@atreyurafa]

this guy is so right

[@utgangboy]

Wheare Lil peep "dying" intro, please time code

[@gusmorrusmorris1845]

Lol

[@calios8209]

Just watched the whole thing it's not here

[@HXSHXR]

+++

[@miglena2s]

Genes at work. ❤ Great lecture! "The most important thing is intuition."

[@A1Happy777]

Awesome talk, Doc. Thank you.

[@sickel101]

i'm gonna be like this man right after i finish this sack

[@jennyoshea1958]

Well said Robert👏

[@kmanarabrown3259]

I wish I could talk to this man

[@RiteshPatel_21]

Yes indeed we are responsible for our own personal negligences as well as any sorts of downfallls we are going through in our life. Blessings to those who are going through difficult times in their lives.

[@gday6633]

One of my favourite Ted talks! Thank you

[@billyranger1236]

Bang on. Brilliant. let’s leave the morality aside. Let’s deal with this problem.

[@lottajarvi2907]

Great video!!!

[@crissycattuzzo1460]

I adore that man! ❤️❤️❤️

[@susanjohnson7679]

Great speech

[@metricdeep8856]

You are setting the stage for your kids with how you live your evenings in front of them. Don't ever think you are smart enough to keep "you" from "them".

[@infernal693]

Brilliant

[@Fireefly100]

just watching this kinda helps

[@olgakim4848]

Yep.

[@romannagel2414]

Very nice !

[@4thamendment237]

This is an excellent, comprehensive, and very candid talk about addiction. I think we all could have done without the Coughing Connie Covid who provided the background audio. Holy Cow! You're coughing like that but remain in the room?! How thoughtless and inconsiderate!

[@upseteating8679]

First. My God dude stay home this is how we got COVID. Second I can 100% understand this long lineage of addicts, I myself having an eating disorder while trying to assist my father the gambler raised by his father the alcoholic etc etc. It feels impossible most days and like I should give up because I can't even control my own mind.

[@tagaway6173]

How are you doing now?

[@ilaiketurtles5889]

You realize this was filmed 4 years ago. And also some people get a dry throat from talking for long periods of time.

[@nickp9994]

@@ilaiketurtles5889 I think they were referring to the guy in the audience coughing not the speaker. But yea, the dates are way off… Most likely typhoid

[@rdoodoo2021]

​@@nickp9994 😅🤟

[@youngdrea7560]

This man understands, ❤️ edit:wish the rest of the world did too :(

[@owen7185]

I like this man. bang on the fuckin money

[@antoniobutcher]

it's okay i'm coughing too

[@kingzeus369]

I would love to speak at a tedx conference

[@nhdarling2]

Hope the guy that had a cough is okay now

[@michaelseidenberg2323]

She was addicted to coughing

[@shadowaccount]

Why is the audio so bad in this video? Its distracting. But the message is clear nonetheless.

[@davidj8065]

I am struggling

[@stephaniedegange2737]

i am sorry...

[@o0LoveLove0o]

Me too, you're not alone and never will be. *cyber hugs"

[@terrykelly7042]

tell someone. if I can recover you can too

[@JenLyn78]

Are you ok now? Im also a struggling/recovering addict...its a battle that is definitely not for the faint of heart...reach out to someone even me if you want or need to...reply n ill shoot u my email...

[@navysteve95]

David J. Have you found help?

[@clanmaccus1959]

Pass Around some Cough Syrup ... lol...

[@bobbytarantino1066]

lmfao

[@GemmaJadeYT]

Clan Maccus yeah lol I thought that was just me!!

[@Wayne-pr6vs]

Some codeine linctus

[@carieyoung1111]

No doubt!

[@jackstargazer5976]

All heavy smokers

[@eilish4290]

This man and his speech was very interesting however I wanted to turn it off a few times because of the constant coughing, I don't know how he kept his cool cos it was very irratatating, I did find it informative thank you 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

[@michaelseidenberg2323]

They were coughing addicts

[@westcoastorbust2462]

Yea it’s so annoying. They should have walked out b

[@unfnbelievable3609]

The only things I don't find addictive are good wholesome habits and activities. Soooo.... yeah doc!

[@premier69]

6:45 what was that cut?

[@joandoherty5334]

Every human is an addict, it is due to a state of anxiety. There is no such thing as a non addict! Phone, shopping, Internet, voyeurism, tea, coffee, gossip?

[@pyroslavx7922]

I kinda envy those who can do "sensible use". I wonder if there is a predisposition gene for sensible drug use ability(in a broad sense - not just psychoactive chemical ones) or it is a learned thing ;-)

[@gordordf1091]

self control is the term you are looking for :)

[@owen7185]

can an addictive person volunteer to be part of research?

[@alxivanov]

Exceptional. As good as Gabor Mate.

[@Quinefan]

He claims there are specific genes which predispose to addiction (without which a person won't become addicted), but offers no support for this claim. He mentions trauma as a 'contributory cause' but doesn't explore it at all. He makes the remarkable claim that individual therapy is always ineffective unless the therapist is also an addict - again offering no support for this claim. It seems very strange to me.

[@paulamoors]

I’m an alcoholic. I quit smoking four packs a day but haven’t been able to quit drinking.

[@buddyprice7541]

birds fly. fish swim and drunks drink. I have 11 months sober one day at a time. Bought a boat and fish when I am not working. I love my sobriety. Best wishes to you.

[@paulamoors]

@@buddyprice7541 as of today I am over two months sober. My mind set has changed completely. I no longer feel like I am giving up a best friend. I’ve never been happier.

[@SuCoGoddess]

Addiction is not a disease. It's a response to attempting to escape human suffering. The addiction came along to help the individual solve a problem that they had no other solution for at that time. Not all addicts, but probably most, are living with some kind of trauma that they never got help for or learned how to cope with. Sidebar* Is the man reading to a large group of 6 year olds who all need cough drops? I can't even finish it.

[@mitzi5305]

Addiction for me is a response to my suffering. If I told another person all that brought me to addiction I don't know they could, would, believe me. I met Robert Lefever once, took part in group therapy that he lead maybe 30 years ago in Kent. I can't agree that addiction is genetic, but I do believe we learn from others that oblivion can be achieved. At a cost.

[@yoursubconscious]

ok, give that person some water! PLEASE! 🥤

[@EveningTV]

The thing no one tells you is that 12 step programs and rehabs based on 12 steps (which is most of them) are almost guaranteed not to help, and if you are in the 92% that fail to find your solution in the 12 steps the program's answer is to blame the addict. The fact that it has gone on this way since the 1930's with almost no progress or innovation is a clear sign of the discrimination that exists in society. No other group is just written off the way drug addicts are. If anything else was killing epidemic numbers of people in the prime of their lives the way addiction has we'd be looking for real solutions not perpetuating, and in this case profiting from, a myth.

[@Michael-tr7uq]

So true. 80% of people with AUD don't even seek help because of the dismal efficacy of standard "treatment". Science-based treatments like The Sinclair Method have much higher effectiveness (10x). TEDx talk on KZbin. Highly recommend this method. No shame, no guilt, just cure. “The Sinclair Method … it really made a lot of sense. It’s so beautiful. You don’t have to stop drinking. You don’t have to give up alcohol. The alcohol will give you up. So that is the beauty of this treatment.” Dr. Kshama Metre

[@kirstyriver7689]

❤ do agree. I went to the most expensive 12 step drug addiction rehab in europe for two months and they fed us a lot of bull for being in the 3%percentage that had the money and circumstantial desperation to be in there. They called us "stronger than the 97% per cent." Kinda hit really wrong with me. I didn't pat myself on the back at the time.

[@kirstyriver7689]

❤👍

[@westcoastorbust2462]

Interesting

[@deadpoetoftheyear]

Not sure every addict is born. Or even made by bad events. I started my life as someone that didnt need drugs because life was so stimulating and beauty and interest and curiousity everywhere. I accidentally found the wonders of opioids and swore never go there. My early middle ages were wonderful. Then i needed comfort safety and feeling good. Cuz stopped feeling alot. Turned to opioids of course and acting like a teenager and being 49. Displaying perfect addiction behavior out of nowhere. Only thing i can think of was that i past the 15 year mark on ssris. If they made me like this its kind of interesting.

[@telmentes]

There is no lil peep song's intro and outro!

[@DavidWaeldervideo]

One and six have addictive nature is BOGUS. Everyone is an addict of some kind - they are just socially acceptable like work, or indifference for example.

[@kirstyriver7689]

Preach.

[@HXSHXR]

If ur here for lil peep dyin's intro... Ur Legend n real Fan Bro😹😹💔

[@jerrymamabolo3227]

Wow

[@baxterrashar7305]

Well argued sir, but I'd beg to say that it doesn't seem as simple as that. I share the tendencies you ascribed to yourself but somehow for me all such tendencies magically disappear when I'm with people. How do you explain that? I'm a major disaster field when alone and a model citizen even if I have one person around me. If I simply had a hardware problem, then why would it suddenly go away in company? In my opinion addiction is primarily a behavioral problem coming out of less social contact.

[@mandybrown3032]

baxter rashar there have been interesting studies showing that rats with more stimulating environments (in your case the presence of others) did not use the drug water and preferred the water with no drugs.

[@kirstyriver7689]

Yes I have the same situation.

[@kirstyriver7689]

@@mandybrown3032 yes that is very interesting.

[@DD-pz3kf]

When you say to yourself " I'm glad I'm not like that " your walking on shaky ground

[@RohanC1994]

wow. what a video.

[@kmanarabrown3259]

We are the worst in the healthcare field. One day we say enough. It’s unique and I am not saying enough for the reasons you think. And I love my job. We are broken

[@paultheroman6637]

My research into this very personal subject leads to me to think that one of the most effective treatments for any and all types of addiction could be Ibogaine therapy administered and supervised by a competent and compassionate counselor/guide. The process rarely lasts for more than a week and involves a sort of regression by the addict to the time in their lives when an event or trauma created in them the conditions both physical and psychological that would ultimately lead them into the addiction which would eventually dominate and control their lives even to the point of self destruction because the slow suicide which is characterized by addiction becomes, for the subconscious, the only means for release and liberation from that addiction. I suspect that the reason that Ibogaine therapy is not more widely accepted and utilized is precisely because it is so effective and by its nature represents a threat to the more commonly accepted and much more lucrative rehab processes. After all the twin industries of addiction and rehabilitation are, quite obviously, highly profitable for TPTB.

[@djbond6241]

ANYTHING IN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS IS A ADDICTION

[@emmahribar]

there's always like two or three people who want to cough throughout the whole talk.

[@benbelt5849]

Emma Ferguson it's almost like coughing can be involuntary. surprising right?

[@benbelt5849]

Emma Ferguson right... nobody has ever coughed not on purpose? what kind of sense does that make

[@joeymitchell5467]

lol thats great its so true

[@dawnadawn]

Funny, I heard every word said and can't recall ever hearing someone cough? Why is that? Anyway my brain works different than yours I suppose.

[@rachelalexandra9818]

I was totally distracted by the constant hacking as well.

[@michaelseidenberg2323]

I have three different size clothes he said because his weight fluctuate up and down. Apparently he's wearing the big version of him clothing

[@garyscherer171]

I was with him till he advocated the 12 step programme as used by AA

[@AirSullivan504]

Ain’t this the truth.

[@mikeaaron2819]

Everyone is addicted to something it’s just that they’re not too addicted to the point of severe suffering.

[@minshubay6740]

I'm addicted to Ted Talks. Help!

[@LostShamen]

Addiction is a double edged sword

[@DaveGreeneramblingcarpenter]

I'm addicted to coughing

[@joshuastuller5355]

Anyone else distracted by the excessive coughing in the audience?

[@emiliadavis8247]

Yes I am as thinking, please get the ones coughing, some Ricola!!

[@hippiecheezburger5457]

Once it was mentioned it didn’t stop lol

[@griffphilm]

A recovered cough medicine addict....

[@emiliadavis8247]

@@griffphilm lolol!!!!

[@w8681]

I feel like the audience didn't cough enough.

[@cindyhiggs2519]

I'm addicted to FAMILY FEUD