Alcohol, drugs, gambling and compulsive habits affect millions of people and the families around them. London Real has explored addiction through the eyes of a physician who has worked with addicts for decades, a homeless centre manager, fighters who have spoken openly about their own struggles, and Brian Rose himself. These conversations ask whether addiction starts with pain rather than the substance, and what recovery can look like. Guests share their own views and experiences, not medical advice. Every full interview is free to watch.
From physician and author Dr Gabor Maté, Lost Connections author Johann Hari and psychopharmacologist Professor David Nutt to boxing world champion Nigel Benn, MMA heavyweight James Thompson, Cro-Mags singer John Joseph and homeless charity manager Gary Davidge: the causes of addiction and the road out.
Dr Gabor Maté, a Canadian physician known for his work on addiction, argues that the question is not why the addiction but why the pain. In Why You Are Addicted and Childhood Trauma Creates Addiction, he explains why he believes early trauma lies behind most addictions. Johann Hari, whose book Chasing The Scream examines the war on drugs, makes a related case about disconnection. Professor David Nutt argues that alcohol is the most damaging drug in the world. These are the guests’ views and research, not treatment advice.
Several guests speak from experience. Brian Rose talks openly about his own relationship with alcohol and how he finally stopped drinking. MMA heavyweight James Thompson describes his struggle with a gambling addiction. Nigel Benn, the former WBO and WBC world champion, has spoken about the drink and drugs that followed his boxing career and the faith he credits with turning his life around. John Joseph, singer of the Cro-Mags, talks with Brian about facing their demons. Gary Davidge, who runs a homeless drop-in centre for the Spitalfields Crypt Trust, explains how addiction, mental health and homelessness feed each other.
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Who has London Real interviewed about addiction? Brian Rose has interviewed Dr Gabor Maté, Johann Hari, Professor David Nutt, Nigel Benn, James Thompson, John Joseph and Gary Davidge, and has spoken about his own decision to stop drinking.
What causes addiction, according to the guests? Gabor Maté points to childhood trauma and emotional pain. Johann Hari focuses on disconnection. David Nutt looks at how harmful different drugs are. Their views are not a substitute for advice from a doctor or addiction service.
Is this different from the Mental Health page? Yes. The Mental Health page covers anxiety, depression and trauma more broadly. This page focuses on dependency on alcohol, drugs and gambling, and on personal recovery stories.
Are the full addiction episodes free to watch? Yes. Every full-length interview on this page can be watched free on londonreal.tv.
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