Thompson Rivers University Faculty Association and the TRU School of Nursing present bestselling writer and physician Gabor Maté at a public lecture on Wednesday, The Realm of Addictions on Wednesday, April 16 at 7:30pm in the Clock Tower Theatre.

His talk is based on his recent book, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts, which looks at the epidemic of addictions in our society, tells us why we are so prone to them and what is needed to liberate ourselves from their hold on our emotions and behaviours.

For over ten years Gabor Maté has been the staff physician at the Portland Hotel, a residence and harm reduction facility in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. His patients are challenged by life-threatening drug addictions, mental illness, Hepatitis C or HIV and, in many cases, all four. But if Dr. Maté’s patients are at the far end of the spectrum, there are many others among us who are also struggling with addictions. Drugs, alcohol, tobacco, work, food, sex, gambling and excessive inappropriate spending: what is amiss with our lives that we seek such self-destructive ways to comfort ourselves? And why is it so difficult to stop these habits, even as they threaten our health, jeopardize our relationships and corrode our lives?

Admission is free, but seating is limited.

Contact: Derek Cook,TRU Faculty Association, (p)250.828.5244