I also think that some of the traits that facilitated my addiction have helped to make me a good scientist. Bottomless curiosity, a willingness to take risks, and perseverance that make a bulldog seem laid-back have all contributed to the successes I’ve had as a neuroscientist. More than anything else, seeking and acquiring knowledge about drugs, addiction, and the brain have given me compassion for the desperate plight of people like me. The understanding I’ve gained has helped me stay clean by informing better choices. My hope is that by illuminating the seeming insanity of colluding in
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