Cracking Addiction
Seeking answers about addiction or supporting someone on the path to recovery? Welcome to Cracking Addiction, the podcast that empowers you with knowledge and hope. Hosted by Addiction Medicine Specialist Dr. Ferghal Armstrong, we explore the science of addiction, effective treatments, and inspiring recovery stories. Whether you're facing addiction, helping a loved one, or a professional seeking insights, this podcast is for you. Join us weekly for expert discussions on substance abuse, behavioral addictions, and their impact on lives. Subscribe now to become part of our healing community
Episodes
In a stunning breakthrough, Stanford researchers have unveiled a potential game-changer in the fight against PTSD and traumatic brain injury.
This episode dives deep into the science and promise behind Ibogaine therapy, a powerful plant-based treatment showing an astonishing 86% remission rate for PTSD after just one session. T
he study focused on 30 special forces veterans, exploring a groundbreaking approach known as the MISTIC pr...
Addiction isn't just about choices—it's also in your genes.New research reveals that your risk for alcohol, opioid, and cannabis addiction might be genetically linked—even if you've never touched a substance in your life. In this episode, we break down a study of over 1 million people that uncovered a powerful genetic factor tied to addiction, impulse control, ADHD, and even emotional regulation.🎯 Why does this matter?...
Cannabis and Psychosis: What 66,000 People RevealedCannabis and Psychosis: What Science REALLY Says Is cannabis as harmless as many believe? A groundbreaking study of over 66,000 people says… not quite. In our latest video, we break down the science linking cannabis use—especially daily and high-potency strains—to a significantly increased risk of developing psychosis. This isn’t just paranoia or temporary effects. We're talkin...
Does Cannabis Really Help with Anxiety? | The Science Explained
For years, many have turned to weed for anxiety relief, but new research suggests the truth might be more complex. In this video, we uncover what 20 years of scientific studies reveal about how THC and CBD actually affect your mental health and anxiety levels.
You’ll learn:
The real science behind cannabis and anxietyHow THC vs. CBD impacts your brain differentlyWhy some ...
The Drug Landscape Has Changed—Are You Ready? Australia is now facing one of the deadliest evolutions in synthetic opioids—nitazenes. With potency levels up to 20 times higher than fentanyl, these hidden killers are showing up in fake pills, club drugs, and even "safe" prescriptions. Most users don’t even know they’ve taken them… until it’s too late.In this week’s Cracking Addiction episode, Dr. Fergal Armstrong dives dee...
This episode of Cracking Addiction delivers a powerful, evidence-packed message on how smoking profoundly impacts reproductive health, pregnancy, and the lifelong wellbeing of children.
Dr. Ferghal Armstrong takes viewers beyond the commonly known risks of cancer and lung disease, diving deep into the lesser-discussed but critically important topic of tobacco’s effects on fertility, fetal development, and transgenerational health.
T...
Every puff of cigarette smoke delivers toxic chemicals deep into your lungs—triggering a cascade of damage that most people don’t realise until it’s too late. Dr. Ferghal Armstrong dives into the devastating effects of smoking on lung health, from early symptoms like chronic cough to advanced stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and emphysema.You'll learn how cigarette smoke impacts the respiratory system, des...
Smoking’s Secret Weapon: Vascular Poison in Every Puff
In this high-voltage episode of Cracking Addiction,
Dr Ferghal Armstrong delivers a powerful reminder: cardiovascular disease is the most immediate risk of smoking—not just lung cancer years down the line.
Even minimal exposure—whether a couple of cigarettes a day or inhaling secondhand smoke—is enough to trigger endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, thrombosis, and lipid imba...
The Shocking Truth About Smoking and Cancer!
Part 3
This video dives deep into the molecular chaos caused by tobacco smoke, revealing how it doesn’t just increase cancer risk—it drives it.
Every puff delivers over 7,000 chemicals, including 69 known carcinogens like benzo-A-pyrene and formaldehyde.
These toxins bind to DNA, creating harmful adducts that trigger mutations, particularly in critical genes like TP53, which regulate cell ...
Cigarettes Today Are Engineered for Addiction — Here's How.
PART 1 of 6 "Unfiltered: Inside the Smoke"T
oday’s cigarettes are a far cry from the simple tobacco rolls of the past. In this explosive episode of Cracking Addiction, Dr. Ferghal Armstrong pulls back the curtain on how modern cigarette design has been weaponised to supercharge nicotine addiction, deepen smoke inhalation, and manipulate public perception.
Learn ...
Shocking Facts About Cigarette Chemicals!
Cigarettes are more than just dried tobacco—they’re chemical weapons in disguise. In this eye-opening episode of Cracking Addiction,
Dr. Ferghal Armstrong dives deep into the real science behind cigarette smoke and its devastating impact on the human body.
With over 7,000 chemicals per puff—and 69 known carcinogens—smoking unleashes a toxic storm on your cells, your DNA, and every organ syst...
How to Stop Shopping Addiction Signs, Diagnosis & Real-Life ImpactIs. Is It Just Retail Therapy — or Something Deeper?
Is your shopping habit harmless fun, or could it be compulsive buying disorder (oniomania)?
In this eye-opening episode of Cracking Addiction, Dr. Ferghal Armstrong breaks down the hidden reality of shopping addiction — its diagnosis, stigma, and the very real consequences on daily life.
What you’ll learn in this...
Dr Armstrong Shares Ways to Help With Porn Addiction!
Are you battling porn addiction symptoms or wondering why porn addiction is harmful? In this eye-opening episode of Cracking Addiction,
Dr. Ferghal Armstrong uncovers the truth about porn addiction, its impact on mental health, and how to overcome it using proven, science-based methods.
You’ll learn whether porn addiction is real—even though it's not officially listed in diagn...
Is Porn Addiction Real? | Truth Behind Porn Addiction Explained
Is porn addiction actually real — or just a myth? In this eye-opening episode of Cracking Addiction, Dr. Ferghal Armstrong explores what really happens to your brain when watching porn and why some people can’t stop.
Discover the shocking science behind porn addiction symptoms like emotional numbness, relationship issues, and even erectile dysfunction — all linked to dop...
Is sugar addiction as powerful as cocaine?Is sugar truly a food addiction? This video explores the neuroscience behind sugar's allure, touching on the brain reward pathway and how sugar hijacks brain. It also considers what this means for our mental health and overall well-being.
Dr. Ferghal Armstrong reveals how to break sugar addiction and beat sugar addiction with science-backed insights. Struggling with my sugar addiction or...
Struggling with porn addiction or supporting someone who is? This episode of "Cracking Addiction" delivers real talk, clinical insight, and proven strategies for lasting recovery. 🚨 Subscribe for more expert-led content on addiction and recovery! 🚨Join Dr. Ferghal Armstrong as he tackles the complex truth about porn addiction help, from hidden signs of porn addiction to the emotional toll of shame and porn addiction. Wh...
Solstice-Induced Mood Disorders and Relapse Prevention
Does the summer solstice mental health shift hit your addiction relapse prevention? In Cracking Addiction: Solstice-Induced Mood Disorders and Relapse Prevention,
Dr. Ferghal Armstrong unveils how seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and solstice and mood changes impact seasonal mood affective disorder in recovery.
Curious about seasonal affective disorder with drug addiction? This...
From Dopamine to Disease: Understanding the Addiction-Cancer Connection.
What’s the hidden link between addiction and cancer? In this Cracking Addiction episode, Dr. Ferghal Armstrong and UC San Diego’s Dr Raphael E. Cuomo reveal how lifestyle and cancer risk intertwine.
Discover how cancer prevention and healthy lifestyle choices can transform your health and lower risks, including skin cancer and lifestyle choices like sun exposur...
The Truth About Pill Testing: Myths, Facts, and Public Health Impact.Ready to uncover the truth behind pill testing news?
Dr. Ferghal Armstrong dives into pill testing Australia, revealing what is pill testing and its impact on public health.
Forget myths—pill testing at festivals uses drug testing techniques like gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify dangerous substances in party drugs, with up to half containing un...
Ever felt gut feeling vs anxiety and wondered how can you listen to your gut feeling when you have anxiety and OCD? In Cracking Addiction: Anxiety & The Gut, Dr. Ferghal Armstrong unravels the gut brain connection behind anxiety gut feeling. Discover how the gut brain axis and enteric nervous system—your “second brain”—link mental health to digestion. Struggling with relationship anxiety or true gut feeling? This video reveals ...
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