If you or someone close to you have struggled with addiction, you know how much pain, isolation and shame can come along with it. As journalist Johann Hari highlights, isolation and shame tend to make addiction stronger, yet public policies have often focused on further isolating and shaming people experiencing addiction. Hari asserts that providing opportunities for people to reconnect with their communities, to work, and to be of service to others can help promote self-esteem and recovery.

I highly recommend Hari’s book Lost Connections for those wanting to better understand the relationship between connection and addiction. The video below gives an introduction to the topic.

After watching the video, I invite you to ask yourself in what ways your life is similar to “rat park,” and in what ways your life is similar to the empty cage. Whether you are experiencing addiction or not, what might make your life more like rat park?