Patterns: Addiction

What makes us susceptible to addiction? Is it something we're born with, shaped by our experiences, or driven by the world around us? And why is it so difficult to break free?

For the second edition of Patterns , our new conversation series exploring the behaviours, habits and emotional cycles that shape our lives, we're joined by bestselling author and journalist Johann Hari , in conversation with award-winning journalist, author and mental health campaigner Bryony Gordon .

Drawing on his bestselling book Chasing the Scream and years of research into addiction, Johann challenges conventional thinking about what makes us vulnerable to addiction, exploring the roles of trauma, environment, isolation and human connection.

From drugs and alcohol to the compulsive behaviours that shape modern life, the conversation will explore how addiction takes hold, what keeps us trapped in destructive patterns and whether there's really such a thing as an addictive personality.

Bringing her own experiences of addiction and recovery to the discussion, Bryony will join Johann for an honest, insightful and thought-provoking conversation that challenges what we think we know about addiction and what it really takes to break the cycle.