The Child Code in the News
Podcasts and more…
There Is No “Addiction Gene” — What Actually Shapes Risk
On the Sober Spill podcast, Dr. Danielle Dick explains why addiction risk is shaped by many genes and life experiences, how ADHD, anxiety, and environment can influence vulnerability, and how parents and clinicians can use science to support resilience, prevention, and recovery.
Making Research-Informed Parenting Support Easier to Access
In this Medium blog, Dr. Danielle Dick reflects on why parents need more than fragmented online advice when navigating behavior, emotions, boundaries, and risk-taking. She shares how HumanUp aims to make research-informed insights from experts in parenting, child development, mental health, and behavior easier to access in the moments families actually need support.
Why Some Kids Are More Vulnerable to Addiction
On the Curious by Nature podcast, Dr. Danielle Dick explains how genetics, personality, and early brain development influence addiction risk and how recognizing individual differences can help parents support prevention and healthy coping skills.
How Parental Engagement and Personalized Parenting Prevent Risk-Taking in Teens
On the InfoTrak TalkTone podcast, Dr. Danielle Dick discusses how genetic influences shape teen behavior and why parents can play a critical role in guiding children, particularly those at higher genetic risk for conduct problems.
Is Risk-Taking in Your DNA? The Role Genetics Play in Leadership
On the Passage to Profit Show, Dr. Danielle Dick discusses how genetic influences shape behavior, addiction risk, leadership traits, and decision-making.
Teens & Temptations - Navigating Modern Day Risks
A recorded live discussion featuring Dr. Danielle Dick and Nicholas Urban, LCSW, offering research-backed insight and practical guidance for parents navigating teen mental health, substance use risk, and resilience in today’s world.
Why Some People Struggle More With Alcohol Than Others
In this CNN feature, Dr. Danielle Dick discusses how genetics, environment, and motivation interact to shape alcohol risk, emphasizing that drinking behaviors exist on a continuum and that reducing use at any level can improve health.
Monument Live: Measuring Alcohol's Effects on Women
In this Monument Live discussion, Dr. Danielle Dick and Seek founder Katie Garry explore why alcohol is an emerging women’s health issue. They unpack recent research on rising alcohol-related harms among women and discuss how science-based tools can empower women to better understand alcohol’s effects on their bodies.
New Jersey Discovery Showcase - What Causes Addiction?
At the New Jersey Discovery Showcase, Dr. Danielle Dick breaks down what science really tells us about addiction. Drawing on decades of research, she explains how genetic risk is shaped by many small influences rather than a single “addiction gene,” and how this knowledge can lead to more effective, personalized approaches to prevention and treatment.
Unlocking Parenting with Science
In this episode of the Child Psych Podcast, Dr. Danielle Dick joins Tania Johnson to explore how genetics shape a child’s personality, influencing traits like Extraversion, Emotionality, and Effortful Control. Instead of trying to mold kids into who we think they should be, the key is adapting parenting strategies to align with their natural tendencies.
If Dry January Feels Impossible, Try a ‘Damp’ January
In this SELF feature, Dr. Danielle Dick discusses the growing popularity of “Damp January,” a flexible alternative to Dry January that focuses on mindful reduction rather than total abstinence. She highlights research showing that even modest decreases in alcohol consumption can improve physical and mental health outcomes.
Genetics vs Parenting: What Really Shapes Your Child?
On the Wisdom Rebellion podcast, Dr. Danielle Dick discusses how genetics and parenting interact to shape child development, behavior, and addiction risk, and how science can help parents better support their children.
Genetics and Alcohol Use Disorder
In this episode of the Alcohol Minimalist podcast, Molly Watts sits down with Dr. Danielle Dick to discuss complex interplay between genetics and environmental factors in the development of alcohol use disorder
Understanding Your Child's Temperament: A key to better parenting
In this episode of Your Anxious Child: 5 Minute Solutions, Dr. Edward Plimpton sits down with Dr. Danielle Dick to discuss her book, The Child Code.
Unlocking the Genetic Keys to Parenting, Addiction, and Mental Health with Dr. Danielle Dick
In this episode of Recovery Conversations on Reduce the Stigma, Whitney Menarcheck sits down with Dr. Danielle Dick, Director of the Rutgers Addiction Research Center and renowned author of "The Child Code", to explore the profound impact of genetics on substance use disorders, mental health, and parenting.
A Few Things with Jim Barrood
Jen Libby + Danielle Dick talk about mental health landscape, innovation, entrepreneurship and opportunities
Why One Size-Fits-All Parenting Doesn’t work and how to parent for the way your child is wired
Dr. Danielle Dick joins Dr. Sarah Bren on the Securely Attached podcast to talk about the impact of DNA, environmental factors, and the interplay between a child’s actions and a parent’s response.
Preventing Substance Misuse
In this insightful episode of Raising Good Humans with Dr. Aliza Pressman, Dr. Danielle Dick delves into a critical topic that concerns every parent and caregiver: preventing substance misuse in kids and teens.
How much you drink could have an influence on how your teen drinks
If you want to keep your kids from drinking, start by looking at your own consumption. In this article, Dr. Danielle Dick weighs in on a recent study published in in the Journal of Adolescent Health that found that adolescents whose parents drank regularly or binge drank were four times more likely to drink themselves.
Sober socializing, a growing movement in New Jersey
Options grow in New Jersey for people who want to meet up without alcohol as a key element. Dr. Danielle Dick weighs in on the growth of the sober-curious movement.

