Dr. Keith Humphreys on Huberman Lab: Why red wine harms more

Humphreys explains why alcohol cancer risk outweighs heart claims; addiction heritability, cannabis potency shifts, and behavior restructuring for recovery.

Dr. Keith HumphreysguestAndrew Hubermanhost

Jan 12, 20263h 27mWatch on YouTube ↗

EPISODE INFO

Released: January 12, 2026
Duration: 3h 27m
Channel: Huberman Lab
Watch on YouTube: ▶ Open ↗

EPISODE DESCRIPTION

Dr. Keith Humphreys is a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford School of Medicine and a leading expert on treating addictions, drug laws and policy. We discuss all the major addictive substances and behaviors, including alcohol, opioids, gambling, stimulants, nicotine, cannabis and more, focusing on how genetics and certain use patterns shape addiction susceptibility. We discuss the best evidence-based tools for recovery, from 12-step programs to emerging treatments such as psychedelics and ibogaine. Anyone interested in making better choices for their health and/or seeking to avoid or overcome addictions ought to benefit from this episode. Episode show notes: https://go.hubermanlab.com/Ir6zQnv *Thank you to our sponsors* AG1: https://drinkag1.com/huberman David: https://davidprotein.com/huberman BetterHelp: https://betterhelp.com/huberman Helix Sleep: https://helixsleep.com/huberman LMNT: https://drinklmnt.com/huberman *Huberman Lab* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hubermanlab Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hubermanlab X: https://x.com/hubermanlab Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hubermanlab TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hubermanlab LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-huberman Website: https://www.hubermanlab.com Newsletter: https://www.hubermanlab.com/newsletter *Dr. Keith Humphreys* Stanford academic profile: https://profiles.stanford.edu/keith-humphreys Book: https://amzlink.to/az0Q03kPwfVJb Stanford-Lancet Commission on the North American Opioid Crisis: https://opioids.stanford.edu Stanford Network on Addiction Policy: https://addictionpolicy.stanford.edu The Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/people/keith-humphreys The Atlantic: https://www.theatlantic.com/author/keith-humphreys Publications: https://profiles.stanford.edu/keith-humphreys?tab=publications X: https://x.com/KeithNHumphreys *Timestamps* 00:00:00 Keith Humphreys 00:03:22 Addiction; Genetic Risk 00:09:14 Alcohol Use Disorder & Alcoholism; Genetic Predisposition & Addiction Risk 00:18:03 Sponsors: David & BetterHelp 00:20:37 Women & Alcohol Use; Young Adults; Cannabis Use 00:23:36 Health Benefit to Alcohol?, Red Wine, Cancer Risk; Social Pressure 00:31:47 Alcohol in Social Gatherings, Social Anxiety, Vulnerability, Work & Dates 00:37:41 Old vs New Cannabis & THC Levels; Smoked vs Edible Forms 00:44:38 Cannabis & Psychosis Risk; Cardiac Health; Youth Cannabis Use & Transition to Adulthood 00:52:29 Sponsor: AG1 00:54:13 Industries of Addiction, Regulation; Gambling, Slot Machines, Novelty; Casinos 01:05:28 Decriminalization vs Legalization; Cannabis, Gateway Drug? 01:08:50 Psylocibin or LSD, Addiction Treatment; Microdosing, Clinical Trial Challenges 01:18:58 Sponsor: Helix Sleep 01:20:32 Brain Plasticity & Age; Ketamine, Depression, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) 01:28:10 SSRIs, Mass Shootings, Suicide, Side Effects; Drug Approval; Ibogaine & PTSD 01:36:10 Caffeine Addiction?; Stimulants & Rehab; Prescription Stimulants & ADHD 01:44:04 Nicotine, Mistaking Withdrawal for Benefit 01:47:24 Sponsor: LMNT 01:48:44 Tool: How to Talk to Someone with Addiction 01:55:23 Perception of Addicts, Character Defect, Pain 02:00:58 Overcoming Addiction, Immediate Rewards, AA; Addict & Co-Dependency? 02:09:53 Longterm Drug Use, Dopamine, Cues & Relapse; Social Media 02:16:21 Brain Stimulation, TMS; Homelessness, Substance Use & Rehab 02:26:11 Addiction Treatment Policy, Rehab & Insurance 02:29:08 Tool: 12-Step Programs, AA, Accessibility & Benefits 02:38:08 AA, Higher Power, Cult?; Flexibility, Tool: Open AA Meetings 02:44:38 GLP-1s, Weight Loss, Alcohol Addiction; Pharmaceutical Advertisements 02:52:39 Social Media Addiction, Tool: Avoiding Social Media Strategies 02:58:36 “Failure to Launch”, Youth, Video Games, Social Media; Recovery Pathways 03:04:13 AA as an Action Program, Tool: Try Different AA Meetings 03:08:21 Hospice, Death, Overcoming Fear of Death 03:13:54 Addiction to Escape Death?, Desire for Oblivion 03:18:11 Men vs Women & Addiction; Lying; Relapse; Fentanyl & Addiction Advice 03:24:27 Zero-Cost Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Sponsors, Protocols Book, Social Media, Neural Network Newsletter #HubermanLab #Science Disclaimer & Disclosures: https://www.hubermanlab.com/disclaimer

SPEAKERS

Dr. Keith Humphreys
guest
Andrew Huberman
host

EPISODE SUMMARY

In this episode of Huberman Lab, featuring Dr. Keith Humphreys and Andrew Huberman, Dr. Keith Humphreys on Huberman Lab: Why red wine harms more explores practical science-based frameworks to prevent, treat, and outsmart addiction today Dr. Keith Humphreys defines addiction as persistent engagement in a rewarding behavior despite serious harm, often accompanied by a progressive narrowing of what feels pleasurable and meaningful. He explains how genetics, age/brain plasticity, and individual drug response shape risk, while emphasizing that exposure is still the prerequisite for addiction.

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