Making Sense of Addiction: The Insights of Professor Bruce Alexander
Addiction is typically seen through two dominant lenses in contemporary society: as a moral failing or a medical disorder. Professor Bruce K. Alexander, an emeritus professor of psychology at Simon Fraser University in Canada, presents a third, more socially grounded explanation. His work over the past several decades, including the influential Rat Park experiments, reframes addiction not as a disease or a defect, but as a response to social and cultural dislocation.
The “Rat Park” Experiments: A Paradigm Shift
In the late 1970s, Professor Alexander and his colleagues conducted what are now known as the “Rat Park” experiments. At the time, laboratory studies had consistently shown that rats given access to morphine-laced water would consume it compulsively, even to the point of death. However, Alexander questioned the conditions of these experiments: the rats were isolated, confined in small cages with no stimulation or social contact.
To test whether environment played a role in addictive behaviour, Alexander created Rat Park, a spacious, enriched enclosure where rats had access to food, toys, and other rats. Crucially, they also had access to both plain water and morphine-laced water.
The results were striking: rats in Rat Park consumed far less morphine than those in isolated cages, and many actively avoided it. Even rats that had previously become dependent in isolated conditions drastically reduced their intake when moved to the more stimulating, social environment of Rat Park (Alexander et al., 1981). This suggested that addiction was not solely caused by exposure to a drug but was heavily influenced by the context in which individuals lived.
Reference: Alexander, B. K., Coambs, R. B., & Hadaway, P. F. (1981). “The Effect of Housing and Gender on Morphine Self-Administration in Rats”. Psychopharmacology, 72(3), 267–272.
Dislocation Theory: Addiction as a Response to Social Breakdown
Following his laboratory research, Alexander developed what he calls the Dislocation Theory of Addiction. This theory posits that addiction is an adaptive response to the experience of dislocation—a condition where people feel disconnected from society, lacking meaningful roles, cultural belonging, or stable relationships.
According to Alexander, dislocation is a widespread and growing phenomenon in modern societies, particularly in the context of global capitalism, colonialism, and rapid socio-economic transformation. As traditional forms of community and identity erode, people may turn to addictive substances or behaviours to fill the emotional and psychological void.
In his 2008 book, The Globalisation of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit, Alexander outlines how mass dislocation on a societal level fuels not only substance addictions but also behavioural addictions such as gambling, consumerism, and workaholism. He argues that addiction is not a fringe problem but a predictable consequence of modern life.
Reference: Alexander, B. K. (2008). The Globalisation of Addiction: A Study in Poverty of the Spirit. Oxford University Press.
Challenging the Disease Model
Alexander’s work stands in contrast to the popular “disease model” of addiction, which treats it as a chronic brain disorder. While he acknowledges that substances can be physically addictive, he believes this model overlooks the social dimensions of the problem.
He also critiques the prevailing policy responses, which often involve punitive criminal justice approaches or individualised medical treatments. These, he argues, fail to address the underlying social causes of addiction; particularly the loss of community, culture, and identity.
Instead, Alexander advocates for social recovery; not just treating individuals, but transforming communities and societies to reduce dislocation and restore a sense of connection and purpose.
Addiction Beyond Substances
One of Alexander’s key insights is that addiction is not limited to drugs or alcohol. He defines addiction as “overwhelming involvement in any pursuit that is harmful to the individual and to society.” This includes compulsive behaviours such as shopping, internet use, eating disorders, and even excessive devotion to work or ideology.
This broader definition helps explain why addiction is so pervasive in modern societies, even where drug use is relatively low. According to Alexander, these behaviours provide temporary relief from the pain of dislocation, even as they contribute to long-term harm.
A Call for Collective Change
Ultimately, Professor Bruce Alexander’s work is both a critique and a call to action. He challenges us to reconsider how we define and respond to addiction—not as a personal failing or medical condition but as a collective social issue rooted in the structure of our societies.
To meaningfully address addiction, he argues, we must foster more connected, inclusive, and humane communities. This means rethinking policies that isolate and marginalise people and investing in social infrastructure that promotes belonging, cultural continuity, and meaningful life roles.
In Alexander’s words, the solution to addiction lies not in suppressing substances or pathologising individuals but in healing the social fabric itself.
Further Reading:
- Alexander, B. K. (2010). Addiction: The View from Rat Park. [Online resource summarising the Rat Park experiments]
- Hari, J. (2015). Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs. (Chapter on Rat Park and Bruce Alexander)
- Maté, G. (2008). In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction. (Offers a complementary perspective on trauma and addiction)
