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It's Genetic: The Risk of Becoming an Addict

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Why are some people more susceptible to addiction than others? How does genetic makeup influence a person’s chances of becoming an addict? This hour, we find out how researchers at Yale University and The Jackson Laboratory are working to better understand the science of addiction. 

Later, we also hear why some Connecticut hospitals are turning to opioid sparing surgery as a way to curb prescription drug addiction and overdose.

GUESTS:

  • Dr. Elissa Chesler - Associate professor at The Jackson Laboratory and principal investigator for the Center for Systems Neurogenetics of Addiction 
  • Dr. Marc Potenza - Professor of Psychiatry, Child Study, and Neuroscience at the Yale School of Medicine and senior scientist at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse 
  • Dr. Philip Corvo - Chairman of the Department of Surgery and Director of Surgical Critical Care at Saint Mary’s Hospital in Waterbury, Connecticut; founder and president the Connecticut Surgical Quality Collaborative

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Chion Wolf contributed to this show.

WNPR’s OpioidAddiction Crisis Reporting Initiative is supported by Hartford HealthCare Behavioral Health Network’s MATCH Program.

Lucy leads Connecticut Public's strategies to deeply connect and build collaborations with community-focused organizations across the state.

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