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NIDA Director Dr Nora D Volkow discusses addiction with the Dalai Lama

November / December 2013 | Volume 12, Issue 6

Craving, desire and addiction were the topics considered by leading scientists and philosophers during a recent Mind and Life Dialogue meeting with the Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader. The NIH was represented at the conference by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Director Dr. Nora D. Volkow. About 200 participants gathered at the Dalai Lama's private residence in India to share their perspectives on ways to improve treatment of the root causes of craving, desire and addiction.

Volkow gave an overview presentation titled "The Role of Dopamine in the Addicted Human Brain," which described addiction as a disease and detailed the latest findings in neuroscience.

Since 1987, the Mind and Life Institute, a Massachusetts-based non-governmental organization, has organized annual dialogues between the Dalai Lama and leading scientists and philosophers to better integrate modern science and Buddhist philosophy.

More Information

• Watch the full webcast of the October 30, 2013 discussion on craving, desire and addiction on the Dalai Lama's official website.
• Watch the webcast as His Holiness the Dalai Lama presents the Role of Science in Human Flourishing on March 7, 2014 as a part of the NIH Wednesday Afternoon Lecture Series (WALS).
• Learn more about the 2013 Mind and Life Dialogue on Craving, Desire and Addiction from the Mind and Life Institute.
• Learn more about international research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) International Program.

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