Addiction may be America's most neglected disease. According to a Columbia University study, "40 million Americans age 12 and over meet the criteria clinically for addiction involving nicotine, alcohol, or other drugs." That's more Americans than are suffering from heart disease, diabetes, or cancer Dr. Gerald Fishkin in his book, "The Science of Shame," asking, "What if shame were at the core of their illness? How many people would find relief by healing or facing that shame?. The doctor discusses toxic shame or low self-worth. Dr. Fishkin offers an powerful analysis of the genesis and influence of toxic shame and negative self talk on mental health in this interview.

Dr. Beth Darnall, PhD is a clinical associate professor in the division of pain  medicine at Stanford University. She is a pain psychologist with 15 years of experience treating adults with chronic pain.

She discusses the health risks associated with taking narcotic opioid pills, why opioid medications don't work to control chronic pain, what techniques help patients need less pain medication, how pain sufferers best taper off opioids, and what should doctors be doing to help people with chronic pain.