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
Can a brain scan predict addiction risk BEFORE first use? 🚨
Most people think substances change the brain after experimentation.But this episode flips the script.In Cracking Addiction, Dr. Ferghal Armstrong breaks down new MRI research suggesting some kids show brain-based vulnerability years before alcohol, cannabis, or cigarettes enter the picture
.✅ What you’ll learn:•
Why “bigger brain” doesn’t automatically mean “better”
• The i...
Kava is everywhere… but is it silently damaging your patients’ livers?
Kava is now turning up in Australian pharmacies, health food stores and online — marketed as a “natural” fix for anxiety, stress and insomnia.
But behind the glossy labels lies a messy reality: wild dosing, limited clinical trials, and real-world reports of hepatotoxicity, drug interactions and impaired driving.
In this episode of Cracking Addiction, addiction med...
How to Cut Sugar by 78% in 30 Days.
Sugar is hijacking your brain — but you can take control back faster than you think.Most people want to quit sugar… but at 3 p.m., stressed and tired, the biscuits in the break room somehow win.
In this episode, addiction specialist and lifestyle medicine practitioner Dr. Fergal Armstrong reveals why your willpower isn’t the problem — and how a simple, research-backed strategy can help you cut suga...
What Happens to Teen Brains After Cannabis?
What if one long-term study could completely reshape how we view teenage cannabis use? T
his jaw-dropping video unpacks a landmark 38-year study from Dunedin, New Zealand, where scientists tracked over 1,000 children from birth into adulthood—and what they discovered could change everything. Spoiler: it's not your typical “just say no” narrative. It’s raw, data-driven neuroscience.
Throu...
Millions unknowingly store a lethal cocktail in their medicine cabinets—and it’s not from illicit drugs. In this gripping episode,
Dr. Ferghal Armstrong reveals a hidden danger in modern medicine: the deadly combination of opioids, benzodiazepines, and gabapentinoids.
Backed by alarming research from North Carolina and Australia, he highlights how these commonly prescribed medications, meant to relieve pain, anxiety, and nerve disc...
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...
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