Dr. Nicole Avena

Under normal conditions it is clear that drugs and food are very different, however, because the brain reward systems responsible for making drugs of abuse so addictive are the same pleasure systems that are activated by the foods we eat, our brains can have a very hard time differentiating between the pleasure derived from mild doses of some drugs of abuse and some types of food. Dr. Nicole Avena shows us the primary differences between food and drugs of abuse and how these differences contribute to food addiction.

With so many decadent dishes on the table, many just can't refrain from the inevitable overeating that occurs. Dr. Avena shows us the potential down side of the Thanksgiving feast. Over eating has real life physical consequences we should all be aware of.