From Heroin to Workaholism: The Universal Addiction Process, Its Origins and Healing Dr. Gabor Maté February 21, 2008

Thanks to one of our support group members for the heads up. Dr Mate is the Vancouver based author of Scattered Minds: A New Look At The Origins And Healing Of Attention Deficit Disorder

PUBLIC LECTURE
February 21, 2008, 5:30 pm

From Heroin to Workaholism: The Universal Addiction Process, Its Origins and Healing Dr. Gabor Maté Physician and Author. February 21, 2008, 5:30 pm. SFU Surrey at Central City, Theatre 2600.

In his timely and profoundly original new book, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction (to be released in early 2008), bestselling writer and physician Gabor Maté looks at the epidemic of addictions in our society, tells us why we are so prone to them and what is needed to liberate ourselves from their hold on our emotions and behaviours. This public lecture, From Heroin to Workaholism: The Universal Addiction Process, Its Origins and Healing, is a first hand opportunity to hear Dr. Maté speak on this topic, and to begin to understand how what he has learned about the addiction process may apply to our own lives and the lives of those around us.

For over seven years, Gabor Maté has been the staff physician at the Portland Hotel, a residence and harm reduction facility in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. His patients are challenged by life-threatening drug addictions, mental illness, Hepatitis C or HIV and, in many cases, all four. But if Dr. Maté’s patients are at the far end of the spectrum, there are many others among us who are also struggling with addictions. Drugs, alcohol, tobacco, work, food, sex, gambling and excessive inappropriate spending: what is amiss with our lives that we seek such self-destructive ways to comfort ourselves? And why is it so difficult to stop these habits, even as they threaten our health, jeopardize our relationships and corrode our lives?

Beginning with a dramatically close view of his drug addicted patients, Dr. Maté looks at his own history of compulsive behaviour. He weaves the stories of real people who have struggled with addiction with the latest research on addiction and the brain. Providing a bold synthesis of clinical experience, insight and cutting edge scientific findings, Dr. Maté sheds light on this most puzzling of human frailties. He proposes a compassionate approach to helping drug addicts and, for the many behaviour addicts among us, to addressing the void addiction is meant to fill.

I believe there is one addiction process, whether it manifests in the lethal substance dependencies of my Downtown Eastside patients, the frantic self-soothing of overeaters or shopaholics, the obsessions of gamblers, sexaholics and compulsive internet users, or in the socially acceptable and even admired behaviours of the workaholic. Drug addicts are often dismissed and discounted as unworthy of empathy and respect. In telling their stories my intent is to help their voices to be heard and to shed light on the origins and nature of their ill-fated struggle to overcome suffering through substance use. Both in their flaws and their virtues they share much in common with the society that ostracizes them. If they have chosen a path to nowhere, they still have much to teach the rest of us. In the dark mirror of their lives we can trace outlines of our own.

from In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts

Program
5:30 – 7:00 pm … Dr. Maté’s Lecture
7:00 – 7:30 pm … Questions and Answers
7:30 – 8:00 pm … Book Signing and Sales

Location
SFU Surrey at Central City, Theatre 2600
13450 102nd Avenue, Surrey, BC

Transit and Parking
SFU Surrey is easily accessible by SkyTrain or by car. Parking on visitor level P5 of the parkade is $2 per hour until 6 pm and $3 (flat fee) thereafter. For more details on transportation options and parking, click here.

Registration
This event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited and registration is required. To register online, click here. Or, you may email healthed@sfu.ca or call 778.782.7451.