Addiction, Hope, and Recovery in Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings

James Hugh Berry, Lisa Coutras TerrisLecture Hall M

Addiction is often viewed through clinical and scientific lenses, but its nuanced portrayal in literature can provide profound insights into the human experience of substance use and recovery. This workshop delves into addiction themes in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings through an interdisciplinary approach combining literature, psychology, and addiction psychiatry. It highlights how Tolkien’s lived experiences as a trench writer post-World War I inform his exploration of trauma, despair, and resilience, offering timeless lessons relevant to contemporary discussions on recovery.

Using key moments in the narrative—such as Frodo’s burden of the One Ring and Gollum’s self-destructive obsession—participants will analyze addiction’s psychological, spiritual, and social dimensions. The workshop will explore themes of hope and purpose as antidotes to despair, the transformative power of community in recovery, and the role of mercy and moral choice in confronting addiction.

Through guided group analysis, interactive discussions, and application exercises, attendees will engage with these themes in depth, connecting them to real-world addiction and recovery experiences. Participants will reflect on how literature can illuminate the human condition, enhance empathy, and inform clinical practice.

This workshop aims to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, encouraging participants to integrate narrative understanding into addiction psychiatry, psychology, or personal perspectives. By the end, attendees will have gained not only a deeper appreciation for Tolkien’s work but also actionable insights into how themes of recovery and resilience resonate across disciplines and contexts.

Van Oppen, D., Berry, J. H. (2023). Opioid Use Disorder. Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences, third edition. Elsevier Ltd. Zheng W, Cavrak M, Bowles H, Deng Y, Wen S, Gao S, Lander L, Berry J, Winstanley EL. 10-year retention of a comprehensive treatment model of buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. J Addict Dis. Feb 24:1-8. 2024 Bailey BC, Cox S, Terris L, van Oppen D, Howsare J, Berry JH, et al. (2023) Rural health care worker wellness during COVID-19: Compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction & utilization of wellness resources. PLoS ONE 18(12): e0295020. 2023 Mahoney, III, J.J., Thompson Lake, D.G.Y., Ranjan, M., Marton, J.L., Carpenter, J.S., Zheng, W., Berry, J.H., Farmer, D.L., D'Haese, P.F., Finomore, V.S., Tirumalai, P., Mears, A., Suffridge, J., Hodder, S.L. Rezai, A.R. (2023). Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Targeting the Bilateral Nucleus Accumbens as a Potential Treatment for Substance Use Disorder: A First-in-Human Report. Biological Psychiatry. 2023 Mahoney, III, J.J., Haut, M.W., Carpenter, J.S., Ranjan, M., Thompson Lake, D.G.Y., Marton, J.L., Zheng, W., Berry, J.H., Tirumalai, P., Mears, A., D'Haese, P.F., Finomore, V.S., Hodder, S.L. Rezai, A.R. Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Targeting the Nucleus Accumbens as a Potential Treatment for Substance Use Disorder: Safety and Feasibility Clinical Trial. Frontiers in Psychiatry. 2023 Rezai AR, Mahoney JJ, Ranjan M, Haut MW, Zheng W, Lander LR, Berry JH, Farmer DL, Marton JL, Tirumalai P, Mears A, Thompson-Lake DGY, Finomore VS, D'Haese PF, Aklin WM, George DT, Corrigan JD, Hodder SL. Safety and feasibility clinical trial of nucleus accumbens deep brain stimulation for treatment-refractory opioid use disorder. J Neurosurg. 2023 Jun 9:1-9

Wed 11:00 - 12:30

Workshop