Music over Chocolate
from Part Four - How Music Helps with Illness
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 May 2025
This chapter explores the widespread issue of addiction, focusing on sugar addiction as a prevalent yet often overlooked example. It compares the addictive potential of sugar to cocaine, highlighting the detrimental health consequences of excessive sugar consumption. The chapter also examines the neural mechanisms underlying addiction, explaining how the brain’s pleasure system adapts to frequent drug use, leading to cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Music is presented as a potential antidote to addiction, offering distraction, mood regulation, and alternative sources of pleasure. Research suggests that music therapy can be a promising intervention for individuals struggling with addiction, as it activates the brain’s pleasure pathways and fosters social connection. The chapter also discusses the importance of personalized playlists in addiction management, emphasizing the need to avoid music associated with past addictive behaviours. It concludes by offering practical recommendations for utilizing music to overcome cravings, regulate emotions, and build resilience in the face of addiction. The potential of music therapy to address the underlying emotional and social factors contributing to addiction is also highlighted.
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