What can Jane Goodall teach us about addiction?

Frisher

Abstract

In 2017, Jane Goodall, the well-known primatologist, wrote a letter to the United States Food and Drug Administration criticising the use of animals to test brain-based theories of addiction. She reasoned that we already know about addiction by observing humans. Several scientists countered that research with humans cannot answer important questions about understanding, preventing, and treating addiction. This commentary draws on epidemiology, psychology, psychodynamic models, learning theories and existentialism. It highlights effective prevention and treatment approaches that are not based on brain models of addiction. Jane Goodall’s letter, has, perhaps unwittingly, provided a focal point for reconsidering what kind of research is required to further our understanding of addiction.

Citation

Frisher. (2023). What can Jane Goodall teach us about addiction?. Drugs: Education, Prevention, and Policy, 30(1), 55-59. https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2022.2033164

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 19, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Feb 7, 2022
• Publication Date: Jan 2, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: May 30, 2023
• Journal: Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy
• Print ISSN: 0968-7637
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 55-59
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09687637.2022.2033164
• Keywords: Health (social science), Medicine (miscellaneous)
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/422406
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09687637.2022.2033164