Addiction Resources

  • Addiction Resources

The following list contains print resources available throughout the Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) about addiction. The titles listed here are either Adult or Young Adult titles. Juvenile titles dealing with drugs and addiction are not included in this list.  Please see a librarian for further resources.

Opiate Addiction – The Painkiller Addiction Epidemic, Heroin Addiction and the Way Out

Taite Adams

This text provides facts and personal experiences about opiate addiction and recovery. The resource provides answers to questions, helps allay fears and provides direction for help, treatment and recovery.

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Overcoming Opioid Addiction

Adam Bisaga, Karen Chernyaev

From a leading addiction expert, a desperately needed medical guide to understanding, treating, and finally defeating opioid use disorder Drug overdoses are now the leading cause of death for Americans under the age of 50, claiming more lives than the AIDs epidemic did at its peak. Opioid abuse accounts for two-thirds of these overdoses, with over 100 Americans dying from opioid overdoses every day. Now Overcoming Opioid Addiction provides a comprehensive medical guide for opioid use disorder (OUD) sufferers, their loved ones, clinicians, and other professionals. Here is expertly presented, urgently needed information and guidance, including: Why treating OUD is unlike treating any other form of drug dependency The science that underlies addiction to opioids, and a clear analysis of why this epidemic has become so deadly The different stages and effective methods of treatment, including detoxification vs. maintenance medications, as well as behavioral therapies How to deal with relapses and how to thrive despite OUD Plus a chapter tailored to families with crucial, potentially life-saving information, such as how to select the best treatment program, manage medications, and reverse an overdose.

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Breaking the Cycle of Opioid Addiction

Uwe Blesching

An evidence-based guide to using cannabis to enhance pain relief safely, effectively, and economically while reducing the risks of opioid addiction Opioid addiction has exploded to epidemic proportions in the U.S. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death. In 2012, 259 million prescriptions were written for opioids--more than enough to give every American adult their own bottle of pills. Uwe Blesching, author of The Cannabis Health Index, clearly and thoroughly lays out the overwhelming benefits of using cannabis--not only to reduce the nation's dependence on opioids--but also to manage the craving and withdrawal symptoms of opioid addiction, and especially to address the pain that leads to drug use and addiction in the first place. Citing statistics showing that states allowing legal access to cannabis have seen a 25 percent drop in opioid-related deaths, Blesching explains how precision applications of cannabis can alleviate the mental and emotional aspects of pain by modulating numerous neurotransmitters and their emotional counterparts. He presents a convincing case for the powerful benefits of cannabis in reducing the risks of addiction and overdose, cutting monetary costs, and restoring a sense of balance and control to those who struggle with pain.

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Off the Rails

Susan Burrowes

In this eye-opening book about treating teen addiction, fifteen-year-old Hannah and her mother, Susan, share in their own words the raw and honest realities of their family's struggles, the controversial treatment programs they tried, and their insights into what finally led to Hannah's recovery.

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Saving Jake

D'Anne Burwell

D'Anne Burwell's smart, athletic son-raised in a loving and prosperous home-begins abusing OxyContin as a teenager, and within a year drops out of college, walks out of rehab, and lands homeless on the streets of Boulder. Struggling with fear, guilt, and a desperate need to protect her son, D'Anne grapples with her husband's anger and her daughter's depression as the family disease of addiction impacts them all. She discovers the terrifying links between prescription-drug abuse and skyrocketing heroin use. And she comes to understand that to save her child she must step back and allow him to fight for his own soul. SAVING JAKE gives voice to the devastation shared by the families of addicts, and provides vital hope. Above all, it is a powerful personal story of love and redemption.

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Causes of Drug Use

Michael Centore

Humans have been using various drugs to alter their moods and thoughts for thousands of years. Why do we do it? And what makes a particular person vulnerable to addiction? What can be done to stop problems with drug use before they start? Causes of Drug Use explores all these questions, sorting fact from fiction when it comes to the roots of drug use and misuse. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and meth, drugs are an inescapable part of life in the 21st century. Addiction, once viewed as a shameful secret, is now widely understood to be a brain disease that can be treated. This series explores the many facets of this complex topic, providing students with the facts they need to navigate drug use and abuse in their daily lives. Each title in this series contains an introduction with Helpline contact information, color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. At the end of each book a page is dedicated to Educational Videos which are offered through the use of a QR code, that when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, speech etc. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

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Drug Use and the Family

Michael Centore

We often think of drug addiction as something that happens to an individual. That's true, but addiction is also something that happens to an entire family. Sometimes it's parents who are emotionally and financially drained by looking after a young drug user. Other times, kids are forced to grow up too fast because their parent is distracted by drugs or alcohol. This book explores the many ways in which addiction impacts families and how family members can help each other.From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and meth, drugs are an inescapable part of life in the 21st century. Addiction, once viewed as a shameful secret, is now widely understood to be a brain disease that can be treated. This series explores the many facets of this complex topic, providing students with the facts they need to navigate drug use and abuse in their daily lives. Each title in this series contains an introduction with Helpline contact information, color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. At the end of each book a page is dedicated to Educational Videos which are offered through the use of a QR code, that when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, speech etc. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

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Addiction Recovery

Diana Clark

Addiction can be a launching pad. Healing brings addicts and alcoholics closer to living life with integrity, self-reflection, and in service to others. This journey from addiction to fully functional adult is called recovery. Simply defined, recovery is the practice of behavioral, spiritual and psychological changes beginning with abstinence which encourage a healthy life. Your loved one's progress from addiction to recovery almost always involves you. In the process, you might find a spark for living life with more meaning as well. Just as your addicted loved one needs a path toward healing, you need a path to follow as well. Change does not happen overnight. This book shows you one route. Although it will feel long and painful at points, most of you will find light at the end of it. Written to mirror your journey from fear to surrender, this book includes factual information, psychological theory and a bit of folk wisdom. While many of the examples are about adolescents and young adults, the stories of addiction are applicable regardless of age. The worksheets included in each section are designed to provoke the kind of the thought that leads to insight. There is no single right answer to any of the questions. This is a personal journey of change.

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Drogas Mi Hijo Consume! Que Hacer?

Vincenzo Di Pede

Este libro, escrito por un medico psiquiatra experto en el rea, constituye una herramienta esencial para quien desee ayudar a una persona en situacin de drogodependencia. El autor explica como lograr salir de la codependencia a fin de poder apoyar eficazmente al drogodependiente. Para tal fin realiza una explicacin de las bases neurobiolgicas de las drogodependencias, la naturaleza y efectos de las principales drogas, las caractersticas del adicto y como ayudarlo a responsabilizarse de su enfermedad como primer paso hacia la rehabilitacin. Asimismo se explican las fases de la enfermedad y como el familiar debe intervenir en cada una de estas fases.

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The East Side of Addiction

James DiReda, Henry Grosse, Jack Maroney

"The East Side of Addiction is an altogether real and gritty depiction of a middle class neighborhood's descent into addiction and the collateral damage suffered by their families and the community at large. The book narrates an "Against All Odds" themed story, written to give hope to a generation devastated by the current Opiold Epidemic."

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Chronic Pain and Prescription Painkillers

Grace Ferguson

Prescription opioids such as oxycodone and hydrocodone are highly effective for treating chronic pain, but they also have severe side effects, including significant potential for abuse. The misuse and abuse of prescription painkillers has become a serious global problem, affecting the health and economic welfare of societies worldwide. Fueling the problem of prescription opioid abuse are pill millsmedical operations run by unethical or untrained physicians or pharmacists that over-prescribe narcotics or dispense them for illegal purposes. Although governments have implemented measures to crack down on prescription painkiller abuse, the problem continues to spread. This book explores the issue of chronic pain and the development of opioids. It examines the marketing and promotion of opioids by pharmaceutical companies, as well as other drivers of the opioid epidemic. It evaluates the steps taken by legislative bodies to balance the problem of chronic pain and prescription opioid abuse, and discusses how prescription opioids can be used safely. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich mate

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Addiction and Overdose

Connie Goldsmith

Drug overdosing and death from prescription painkillers and heroin are at epidemic levels in the United States. How do people become addicted and why? Discover the social and economic costs of overdosing and about research and efforts to decrease it.

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This Is Your Country on Drugs

Ryan Grim

Everything we know about drugs-from acid to epidemics to DARE and salvia-turns out to be wrong Stock up on munchies and line up your water bottles: journalist Ryan Grim will take you on a cross-country tour of illicit drug use in the U.S.-from the agony (the huge DEA bust of an acid lab in an abandoned missile silo in Kansas) to the ecstasy (hallucinogens at raves and music festivals). Along the way, Grim discovers some surprising truths. Did anti-drug campaigns actually encourage more drug use? Did acid really disappear in the early 2000s? And did meth peak years ago? Did our Founding Fathers-or, better yet, their wives-get high just as much as we do? Traces the evolution of United States's long and twisted relationship with drugs Gives surprising answers to questions such as: how did heroin become popular, when did the meth epidemic peak, and has LSD gone the way of Quaaludes Based on solid reporting and wide-ranging research-including surveys, reports, historical accounts, and more Not since Eric Schlosser ventured underground to marijuana's black market in Reefer Madness has a reporter trained such a keen eye on drugs and culture. A powerful and often shocking history of one of our knottiest social and cultural problems, This is Your Country on Drugs leads you on a profound exploration of what it means to be an American.

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Never Enough

Judith Grisel

From a renowned behavioral neuroscientist and recovered drug addict, this is the authoritative and accessible guide to understanding drug addiction that we've been waiting for: clearly explained brain science and vivid personal stories combine to reveal how addiction happens and what can be done about it. Addiction is epidemic and catastrophic. With more than one in every five people over the age of fourteen addicted, drug abuse has been called the most formidable health problem worldwide. If we are not victims ourselves, we all know someone struggling with the merciless compulsion to alter their experience by changing how their brain functions. Drawing on years of research--as well as personal experience as a recovered addict--researcher and professor Judy Grisel has reached a fundamental conclusion: for the addict, there will never be enough drugs. The brain's capacity to learn and adapt is seemingly infinite, allowing it to counteract any regular disruption, including that caused by drugs. What begins as a normal state punctuated by periods of being high transforms over time into a state of desperate craving that is only temporarily subdued by a fix, explaining why addicts are unable to live either with or without their drug. One by one, Grisel shows how different drugs act on the brain, the kind of experiential effects they generate, and the specific reasons why each is so hard to kick. Grisel's insights lead to a better understanding of the brain's critical contributions to addictive behavior, and will help inform a more rational, coherent, and compassionate response to the epidemic in our homes and communities.

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I Am Addicted to Drugs. Now What?

Tracy Brown Hamilton

This book helps readers navigate the warning signs of addiction and how to cope with overcoming it. Includes resources and destigmatizes the disease so that users can find the proper help and support they need to break their dependency and stay sober.

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Being Sober

Harry Haroutunian

**As Featured on The Dr. Oz Show in Special Addiction Episode with Steven Tyler** The disease of addiction affects 1 out of 10 people in the United States, and is a devastating--often, fatal--illness. Now, from the physician director of the renowned Betty Ford Center, comes a step-by-step plan with a realistic "one-day-at-a-time" approach to a disease that so often seems insurmountable. With a focus on reclaiming the power that comes from a life free of dependency, Being Sober walks readers through the many phases of addiction and recovery without judgment or the overly "cultish" language of traditional 12-step plans. It also addresses the latest face of this disease: the "highly functioning" addict, or someone who is still able to achieve personal and professional success even as they battle a drug or alcohol problem. Dr. Haroutunian tackles this provocative issue head-on, offering new insight into why you don't have to "bottom out" to get help. Dr. Haroutunian is himself a recovering alcoholic and knows firsthand the challenges of sobriety. His background and expertise in the field of alcohol and drug treatment give him a powerful edge and perspective that is unparalleled in his field. Using clear, straightforward language, Being Sober offers a proven path toward an emotional sobriety and a rewarding new life based on gratitude, dignity, and self-respect. Includes a Foreword written by Steven Tyler.

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Not As Prescribed

Harry Haroutunian

The leading clinical expert on substance misuse and abuse, Dr. Harry Haroutunian of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, provides caregivers and loved ones with vital information needed to understand and address addiction issues in older adults. Drug and alcohol problems are booming in older adults. Dramatic lifestyle changes, along with growing health problems, have led many to turn to alcohol, prescription painkillers, and marijuana to medicate their physical and psychological pain. You may think, Dad is just enjoying cocktails and retirement, or Mom still has pain and needs her pills. Maybe so, but consider that an estimated 17 percent of people age sixty and older struggle with misuse of alcohol and prescription drugs alone. Older adults are now hospitalized as often for alcohol-related problems as they are for heart attacks. In this book, Dr. Haroutunian, physician director of the Professionals Program at the Betty Ford Center, provides you with the information needed to understand the dynamics of addiction in older adults. You’ll learn toclearly distinguish between the signs of aging and the signs of addiction, many of which overlapidentify the indications of drug misuse and its progression to addictionunderstand the unique treatment needs of older adultsget the help you—as a caregiver or loved one—need to cope with your loved one’s addictionThis essential guide can help you transform stress and chaos into understanding and compassion.

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Addiction

Gene M. Heyman

Argues that drug addiction is not a disease but a voluntary choice of an individual.

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Marijuana

Kevin P Hill

The leading clinical expert on marijuana sifts through the myths about the drug to deliver an unbiased, comprehensive guide backed by scientific facts to give you the information you need to make informed decisions about marijuana. Marijuana--or weed, pot, grass, MJ, Mary Jane, reefer, cannabis, or hemp among dozens of other names--has a long, colorful history dating back more than 2,000 years as the one of the most sought-after mood-altering substances in the world. Societal opinion about the drug has dramatically swayed over the years, from viewing it as a grave danger to society in the 1930s film Reefer Madness, to a harmless recreational high in the ’60s, to an addictive substance and gateway to such “hard” drugs as heroin today. The myths and misinformation about marijuana have only multiplied over the years as the controversy over legalization and medical marijuana grows.A nationally recognized clinical expert and leading researcher on marijuana, Kevin P. Hill provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the drug in Marijuana: Cutting through the Myths about the World’s Most Popular Weed. Through research-based historical, scientific, and medical information, Hill will help you sort through what you hear on the streets and in the media and cut straight to the facts. Whether you’re a parent concerned about your child’s use, someone with an illness considering medical marijuana as a treatment option, a user who has questions about its effect on your health, or if you’re just trying to make up your mind about legalization, this book will give you the most current and unbiased information you need to make informed decisions about marijuana.

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Drugs

Les Iversen

The twentieth century saw a remarkable upsurge of research on drugs, with major advances in the treatment of bacterial and viral infections, heart disease, stomach ulcers, cancer, and metal illnesses. These, along with the introduction of the oral contraceptive, have altered all of our lives. There has also been an increase in the recreational use and abuse of drugs in the Western world. This Very Short Introduction, in its second edition, gives a non-technical account of how drugs work in the body. Reviewing both legal (alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine) and illegal drugs, Les Iversen disscusses why some are addictive, and whether drug laws need reform. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

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No More Letting Go

Debra Jay

Offers ways that families and friends of drug addicts can take action, bringing together spiritual wisdom, research into the effects of addiction on the brain and body, and anecdotes to emphasize the need for intervention.

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A Common Struggle

Patrick J. Kennedy, Stephen Fried

Patrick J. Kennedy, the former congressman and youngest child of Senator Ted Kennedy, opens up about his personal and political battle with mental illness and addiction for the first time. This candid memoir focuses on the years from his 'coming out' about suffering from bipolar disorder and addiction to the present day, and examines his journey toward recovery while reflecting on America's treatment of mental health.

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Drug Dealer, MD

Anna Lembke

Three out of four people addicted to heroin probably started on a prescription opioid, according to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the United States alone, 16,000 people die each year as a result of prescription opioid overdose. But perhaps the most frightening aspect of the prescription drug epidemic is that it’s built on well-meaning doctors treating patients with real problems. In Drug Dealer, MD, Dr. Anna Lembke uncovers the unseen forces driving opioid addiction nationwide. Combining case studies from her own practice with vital statistics drawn from public policy, cultural anthropology, and neuroscience, she explores the complex relationship between doctors and patients, the science of addiction, and the barriers to successfully addressing drug dependence and addiction. Even when addiction is recognized by doctors and their patients, she argues, many doctors don’t know how to treat it, connections to treatment are lacking, and insurance companies won’t pay for rehab. Full of extensive interviews—with health care providers, pharmacists, social workers, hospital administrators, insurance company executives, journalists, economists, advocates, and patients and their families— Drug Dealer, MD, is for anyone whose life has been touched in some way by addiction to prescription drugs. Dr. Lembke gives voice to the millions of Americans struggling with prescription drugs while singling out the real culprits behind the rise in opioid addiction: cultural narratives that promote pills as quick fixes, pharmaceutical corporations in cahoots with organized medicine, and a new medical bureaucracy focused on the bottom line that favors pills, procedures, and patient satisfaction over wellness. Dr. Lembke concludes that the prescription drug epidemic is a symptom of a faltering health care system, the solution for which lies in rethinking how health care is delivered.

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Mastering the Addicted Brain

Walter Ling

For anyone trying to overcome an addiction, living with someone with an addiction, or helping someone with an addiction As most drug and alcohol addicts eventually realize, good intentions alone aren?t enough to break destructive habits. However, addiction can be managed once its true nature is understood. This simple yet profound guidebook takes you step-by-step through the process of building a life after addiction by adopting new behaviors that create lasting change. An internationally renowned psychiatrist, neurologist, and addiction specialist, Dr. Walter Ling has worked with thousands of addicts, their loved ones, and fellow clinicians. His no-nonsense, no-judgment approach, which he calls the ?neuroscience of common sense,? advocates holistic methods to prevent relapse and establish new patterns to create a sustainable, meaningful life.

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Fighting for Space

Travis Lupick

Winner, George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature Finalist, Roderick Haig-Brown Regional Prize (BC Book Prizes) North America is in the grips of a drug epidemic. While deaths across the continent soar, Travis Lupick's Fighting for Space explains the concept of harm reduction as a crucial component of a city's response to the drug crisis. It tells the story of a grassroots group of addicts in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside who waged a political street fight for two decades to transform how the city treats its most marginalized citizens. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, this group of residents from Canada's poorest neighbourhood organized themselves in response to a growing number of overdose deaths and demanded that addicts be given the same rights as any other citizen; against all odds, they eventually won. But just as their battle came to an end, fentanyl arrived and opioid deaths across North America reached an all-time high. It's prompted many to rethink the war on drugs. Public opinion has slowly begun to turn against prohibition, and policy-makers are finally beginning to look at addiction as a health issue as opposed to one for the criminal justice system. The previous epidemic in Vancouver sparked government action. Twenty years later, as the same pattern plays out in other cities, there is much that advocates for reform can learn from Vancouver's experience. Fighting for Space tells that story, with the same passionate fervor as the activists whose tireless work gave dignity to addicts and saved countless lives.

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Pill Head

Joshua Lyon

This compelling, honest book investigates the growing epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse among today's Generation Rx. Through gripping profiles and heartbreaking confessions, this memoir dares to uncover the reality--the addiction, the withdrawal, and the recovery--of this newest generation of pill poppers. Joshua Lyon was no stranger to substance abuse. By the time he was seventeen, he had already found sanctuary in pot, cocaine, Ecstasy, and mushrooms--just to name a few. Ten years later, on assignment for Jane magazine, he found himself with a two-inch-thick bottle of Vicodin in his hands and only one decision to make: dispose of the bottle or give in to his curiosity. He chose the latter. In a matter of weeks he'd found his perfect drug. In the early half of this decade, purchasing painkillers without a doctor was as easy as going online and checking the spam filter in your inbox. The accessibility of these drugs--paired with a false perception of their safety--contributed to their epidemic-like spread throughout America's twenty-something youth, a group dubbed Generation Rx. Pill Head is Joshua Lyon's harrowing and bold account of this generation, and it's also a memoir about his own struggle to recover from his addiction to painkillers. The story of so many who have shared this experience--from discovery to addiction to rehabilitation--Pill Head follows the lives of several young people much like Joshua and dares to blow open the cultural phenomena of America's newest pill-popping generation. Marrying the journalist's eye with the addict's mind, Joshua takes readers through the shocking and often painful profiles of recreational users and suffering addicts as they fight to recover. Pill Head is not only a memoir of descent, but of endurance and of determination. Ultimately, it is a story of encouragement for anyone who is wrestling to overcome addiction, and anyone who is looking for the strength to heal.

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Helping a Friend with a Drug Problem

Precious McKenzie

Even more so than family, friends are able to influence each other’s recovery from drug addiction, but to do so requires a thorough understanding of the situation. Readers will learn the signs of abuse for various drugs, along with reasons for abuse, how to confront the friend, and how to encourage treatment. The many sources for further reference fulfill Common Core Standards by offering a means through which readers may draw on information from other sources and solve a problem efficiently. This title teaches an important and especially relevant lesson: drug recovery lasts a lifetime but addiction doesn’t have to.

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Marijuana and Synthetics

John Perritano

Marijuana has been controversial for a long time. Some point out that marijuana is safer than other legal drugs and even has medical benefits for particular illnesses. Others worry about the drug's "gateway" potential and the potentially destructive effects of long-term use. As many U.S. states reconsider their pot legislation, this book provides the facts and dispels myths about that plant called marijuana. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and meth, drugs are an inescapable part of life in the 21st century. Addiction, once viewed as a shameful secret, is now widely understood to be a brain disease that can be treated. This series explores the many facets of this complex topic, providing students with the facts they need to navigate drug use and abuse in their daily lives. Each title in this series contains an introduction with Helpline contact information, color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. At the end of each book a page is dedicated to Educational Videos which are offered through the use of a QR code, that when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, speech etc. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

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Opioids

John Perritano

Drugs that are derived from (or mimic the effects of) the poppy are some of humanity's oldest and most powerful. In fact, opiate drugs were the main tools of doctors for centuries. Unfortunately, misuse of opiates has reached epidemic levels, destroying lives and tearing families apart. This book looks at the history and effects of opiates and introduces readers to treatments that can help turn users' lives around. From caffeine and aspirin to heroin and meth, drugs are an inescapable part of life in the 21st century. Addiction, once viewed as a shameful secret, is now widely understood to be a brain disease that can be treated. This series explores the many facets of this complex topic, providing students with the facts they need to navigate drug use and abuse in their daily lives. Each title in this series contains an introduction with Helpline contact information, color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Text Dependent Questions are placed at the end of each chapter. They challenge the reader's comprehension of the chapter they have just read, while sending the reader back to the text for more careful attention to the evidence presented there. Research Projects are provided at the end of each chapter as well and provide readers with suggestions for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. At the end of each book a page is dedicated to Educational Videos which are offered through the use of a QR code, that when scanned, takes the student to an online video showing a moment in history, speech etc. This gives the readers additional content to supplement the text. And a Series Glossary of Key Terms is included in the back matter containing terminology used throughout the series. Words found here broaden the reader's knowledge and understanding of terms used in this field.

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When Painkillers Become Dangerous

Drew Pinsky, Marvin D. Seppala, Robert J. Meyers

A timely guide to the misuse and abuse of prescription painkillers that sorts the facts from the fiction for legitimate users and their loved ones. If you are concerned about a loved one's use of pain medications, you need to read this book, When Painkillers Become Dangerous Whether prescribed by a physician as OxyContin or purchased on the street as "hillbilly heroin," painkilling drugs are extremely effective in eliminating physical, emotional, and psychological distress. The problem is that these drugs are also incredibly addictive. Misuse of and addiction to prescription pain medications has become America's latest, complex, and alarming drug abuse trend. In fact, an estimated 2.6 million people currently use prescription pain relievers non-medically-a dangerous practice that could quickly reach epidemic proportions. Best-selling author Drew Pinsky, M.D., and five other leading experts offer practical, plainspoken, and much-needed information about addiction to painkilling drugs. They will help you understand:How addiction to painkilling medication developsWhat to do if a family member is addictedWhat happens in addiction treatmentWhy addiction is a family disease

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Dreamland

Sam Quinones

An explosive true account of addiction, marketing and the making of an epidemic weaves together the story of Purdue Pharma's campaign to market OxyContin, while, at the same time, a massive influx of black tar heroin took the county by storm through an almost unbreakable marking and distribution system.

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Prescription Narcotics

Paul R. Sanberg, Michael D. Bunsey

Explores the use of prescription narcotics, the risks and consequences of addiction, and current treatments.

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Thinking Simply About Addiction

Richard Sandor

This profound yet practical guide by a veteran recovery professional goes further than any other book in pinpointing why addictions are so tenacious, how we all suffer from them to a greater or lesser extent, and the true, time-tested steps toward freeing yourself. No social problem today causes greater confusion than addiction. Whatever form it takes?alcohol, heroin, cocaine, nicotine, etc.?it tears apart homes and relationships, destroys careers and futures, and leaves loved ones asking: Why couldn?t he stop once and for all? Or ?get better?? Or control himself? Despite everything that?s been said and written, many people remain deeply confounded about these problems. The addiction-treatment field itself is in a state of civil war because there is no consensus on what addiction is, much less what to do about it. Based on years of hard-won experience by a preeminent specialist in addictive behavior, Thinking Simply About Addiction explains the core truth of addiction: It is not a neurosis, a physical malady, a behavioral choice, or, in the narrowest sense, a moral failure. It is an ?automatism??an involuntary, non-stoppable behavior that once triggered leaves the addict powerless. It is a human problem and a part of human nature. As such, it is something that we all experience. In four to-the-point chapters, Thinking Simply About Addiction rises above the noise level and provides real-world help and new ways of thinking for addicts and those who care for them. Its insights are so profoundly clear and sensible that many readers will be able to say: Finally, someone gets it.

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Here to Help

Jason M. Scholl

Here to Help: A Guide to Overcoming Opiate and Heroin Addiction is the ultimate tool for educating and guiding addicts considering, or working toward sobriety. With opiate addiction on the rise, so is the demand for practical assistance in overcoming it. But the reality is, that time and money are typically resources many opiate/heroin addicts simply do not have! Because of the presence of withdrawals and financial devastation due to the drug abuse, many addicts can't wait or pay for expensive treatments. In other words, when an addict is ready and willing to get sober, they need cost-effective help and they need it immediately. So when they are ready to quit, they must know how to do it and have the proper guidance to safely and effectively succeed quickly. This book was produced to meet those needs. As there are many ways one can go about getting help, how do we know which way to go? Are some ways better than others? What if I cannot afford to go to a facility or treatment center? All these questions and more are answered in this book. Because there are several important factors in each person's unique experience with addiction, 'Here to Help: A Guide to Overcoming Opiate and Heroin Addiction' breaks down how to choose your personal path to recovery. By looking at various methods of recovery and comparing them to your particular circumstances, this book will guide you through the tough questions to the most beneficial and logically attainable route of establishing a sober and meaningful life. This book was produced as an alternative to long waiting lists for beds in treatment facilities, long-distance travels to recovery centers, costly therapy, or undignified at-home remedies. This book is unlike any other, as this guide was written by an addict, for addicts. You won't be stumbling through technical terms and definitions while trying to detox or in withdrawal. This book also approaches the suffering and hardships of addiction/recovery from a first-perso

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The Addiction Solution

Lloyd Sederer

A groundbreaking, “timely and well-written” (Booklist, starred review) guide to addiction from a psychiatrist and public health doctor, offering practical, proven solutions for individuals, families, and communities dealing with substance use and abuse. Written with warmth, accessibility, and vast authority, The Addiction Solution is a practical guide through the world of drug use and abuse and addiction treatment. Here, Lloyd I. Sederer, MD, brings together scientific and clinical knowledge, policy suggestions, and case studies to describe our current drug crisis and establish a clear path forward to recovery and health. In a time when so many people are affected by the addiction epidemic, when 142 people die of overdoses every day in the United States, principally from opioids, Sederer’s decades of wisdom and clinical experience are needed more than ever before. With a timely focus on opioids, Sederer takes us through the proven essentials of addiction treatment and explains why so many of our current policies, like the lingering remnants of the War on Drugs, fail to help drug users, their families, and their wider communities. He identifies a key insight, often overlooked in popular and professional writing about addiction and its treatment: namely, that people who use drugs do so to meet specific needs, and that drugs may be the best solution those people currently have. Writing with generosity and empathy about the many Americans who use illicit and prescribed substances, Sederer lays out specific, evidence-based, researched solutions to the prevention and problems of drug use, including exercise, medications, therapy, recovery programs, and community services. “Comprehensive…well-informed and accessible” (Kirkus Reviews), The Addiction Solution provides invaluable help, comfort, and hope.

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Rewired

Erica Spiegelman

A REVOLUTIONARY NEW APPROACH TO ADDICTION RECOVERY FROM AN ADDICTION EXPERT Rewired is a new, breakthrough approach to fighting addiction and self-damaging behavior by acknowledging our personal power to bring ourselves back from the brink. Centered on the concept of self-actualization, Rewired will guide you towards not only physical sobriety, but a mental, emotional, and spiritual sobriety by learning to identify key principles within yourself, including authenticity, honesty, gratitude, and understanding a need for solitude. Rewired addresses the whole self; just as addiction affects every part of one’s life, so too must its treatment. By helping us to build a healthy space to support our own recovery, we can rewrite the negative behaviors that result in addiction. Usable in conjunction with or in place of 12-step programs, Rewired allows for a more holistic approach, helping to create a personalized treatment plan that is right for you. Each section in Rewired includes: - Personal anecdotes from the author’s own struggles with alcoholism and addiction - Inspiring true success stories of patients overcoming their addictions - Questions to engage you into finding what is missing from your recovery - Positive affirmations and intentions to guide and motivate With all the variables, both physical and emotional, that play into overcoming addiction, Rewired enables us to stay strong and positive as we progress on the path to recovery. Rewired teaches patience and compassion, the two cornerstones of a new, humanist approach to curing addiction. Remember, addicts are not broken people that need to be fixed—they just have a few crossed wires.

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Chancers

Susan Stellin, Graham MacIndoe

In this powerful memoir of addiction, prison, and recovery, a reporter and a photographer tell their gripping story of falling in love, the heroin habit that drove them apart, and the unlikely way a criminal conviction brought them back together. Books for a Better Life Award Finalist * LitHub Best Book of the Month When Susan Stellin asked Graham MacIndoe to shoot her author photo for an upcoming travel book, she barely knew him except for a few weekends with mutual friends at a summer house in Montauk. He was a gregarious, divorced Scotsman who had recently gotten sober; she was an independent New Yorker who decided to take a chance on a rough-around-the-edges guy. But their relationship was soon tested when Susan discovered that Graham still had a drug habit he was hiding. From their harrowing portrayal of the ravages of addiction to the stunning chain of events that led to Graham's arrest and imprisonment at Rikers Island, Chancers unfolds in alternating chapters that offer two perspectives on a relationship that ultimately endures against long odds. Susan follows Graham down the rabbit hole of the American criminal justice system, determined to keep him from becoming another casualty of the war on drugs. Graham gives a stark, riveting description of his slide from brownstone Brooklyn to a prison cell, his gut-wrenching efforts to get clean, and his fight to avoid getting exiled far away from his son and the life he built over twenty years. Beautifully written, brutally honest, yet filled with suspense and hope, Chancers will resonate with anyone who has been touched by the heartache of addiction, the nightmare of incarceration, or the tough choice of leaving or staying with someone who is struggling on the road to recovery. By sharing their story, Susan and Graham show the value of talking about topics many of us are too scared to address. Praise for Chancers "Stellin and MacIndoe, in entries sometimes akin to fighters in the ring, tell the story of their lives as MacIndoe rides a roller-coaster life of drug addiction and prison. . . . It is a remarkable nine-year parallel journey that forced them to bare their innermost thoughts and feelings, forced them to distance themselves and, finally, forced them to recognize that a life, even in the depths of despair, merits saving. . . . [Chancers] grabs in a voyeuristic way and propels page-turning to find out what happens next in a saga no soap opera could create."--The Buffalo News "Emotionally resonant and evenly structured, their tandem chronicle resists overly romanticizing their bittersweet interactions to focus on the dedication and devotion necessary to make their already-complicated relationship survive the fallout of critical hardships. An emotionally complex and intensely personal binary memoir of addiction and sustainable love."--Kirkus Reviews

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The Addiction Spectrum

Paul Thomas, M.D., Jennifer Margulis, PhD

"If anyone you know is struggling with addiction—or if you think you might have a problem—you want to read this book.”—GARTH STEIN, bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain "a proven, comprehensive program that compassionately guides the reader to a place of resolution"—DAVID PERLMUTTER, MD, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Grain Brain, and, Brain Maker "a massive achievement and a giant step forward for addiction medicine"—ANNIE GRACE, author of This Naked Mind Opiate addiction is the single greatest public health crisis facing Americans—it affects over 2 million people and kills 115 of them every single day. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for Americans under fifty. Even as opiate addiction skyrockets, more people than ever before are hooked on alcohol, sedatives, cigarettes, and even screens. The face and prevalence of addiction has changed and evolved, but our solutions to addiction are stuck in the past. We’ve been treating addiction as a black or white issue, a disease you either suffer from or will never suffer from. The problem with this model is that it doesn’t account for the incredible forces working against all of us, pushing all of us toward addiction: stress, undernourishment, sleep-deprivation, vitamin D deficiency, and isolation, not to mention a flawed medical system and corrupt pharmaceutical companies doling out prescriptions at every turn. The truth: Addiction is a disease that, like many others, exists on a spectrum. We are more vulnerable to becoming addicted to substances at certain points in our lives and based on the evidence provided in The Addiction Spectrum, most effective at kicking addiction when we take a holistic approach. With the help of the 13-point plan and individual protocols detailed in this book, you have the power to change your destiny. No one understands this more than Dr. Paul Thomas, who recovered from alcohol addiction early in his career and founded one of the most effective rehabilitation centers for teens and young adults in his hometown of Portland, OR. Named one of the top family doctors and one of the top pediatricians in the country, Dr. Paul is also board-certified in both integrative medicine and addiction medicine. This unique combination of specialties is intentional: Dr. Paul has devoted his entire life and career to saving lives. Using the best conventional medicine alongside the new science of alternative health, Dr. Paul has treated thousands of patients with the life-saving solutions provided in The Addiction Spectrum. Addiction is a compendium of often devastating circumstances that have gone unchecked by society for far too long. This book is a positive light and guide to overcoming not only addiction but the challenges and obstacles that affect us all.

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Preventing and Treating Addiction

Xina M. Uhl

Abuse of opioid drugs has become an epidemic in the United States, claiming victims of all ages and social backgrounds. The effects of drug addiction on individuals, families, and society at large are staggering. Now, more than ever, there is a need to prevent young people from getting involved with drugs through education and intervention programs. At the same time, effective treatment programs are needed for those who get hooked on opioids. This guide discusses the various types of opioid drugs, as well as their effect on the users body. It provides information about risk factors for drug abuse, signs that someone might be in need of treatment, and suggestions for how to help and support a friend or loved one struggling with addiction. Advances in treatment and relapse prevention are explored, as are tried and true methods of drug rehabilitation. Each title in this series includes color photos throughout, and back matter including: an index and further reading lists for books and internet resources. Key Icons appear throughout the books in this series in an effort to encourage library readers to build knowledge, gain awareness, explore possibilities and expand their viewpoints through our content rich non-fiction books. Key Icons in this series are as follows: Words to Understand are shown at the front of each chapter with definitions. These words are set in boldfaced type in that chapter, so that readers are able to reference back to the definitions--building their vocabulary and enhancing their reading comprehension. Sidebars are highlighted graphics with content rich material within that allows readers to build knowledge and broaden their perspectives by weaving together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos are offered in chapt

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Painkillers: Prescription Dependency

Ida Walker

Statistics on drug use show that abuse is decreasing. That's the good news. But there's bad news as well: the abuse of prescription drugs is increasing. Among the most abused prescription medications are painkillers, something many people have in their medicine cabinets. In Painkillers: Prescription Dependency, you will find out what pain really is—and what it isn't—as well as the history of pain. The book also provides up-to-date information about painkillers and how they are abused. Special attention is given to OxyContin, which has expanded addiction to new groups of people. Treatment methods are also covered—but the best route is never to become addicted!

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Addiction Treatment: Escaping the Trap

Ida Walker

In the United States and Canada, millions of individuals have problems with substance abuse. In some cases the problems are relatively minor, but in others, that abuse leads to addiction. Addiction is a serious and costly disease. In Addiction Treatment: Escaping the Trap, you will learn some definitions important in the study of addiction treatment. You will also learn about the history of addiction treatment, including the work and continuing influence of the Washingtonians, the Emmanuel Movement, the Oxford Movement, and of course, Alcoholics Anonymous. Treatment philosophies are also presented in this book Not all treatment methods are alike, and successful addiction treatment combines a variety of approaches. In Addiction Treatment, you will learn that recovery is an ongoing process, and read about suggestions on how to maintain a sober life.

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Out of It

Stuart Walton

“Who will ever relate the whole history of narcotica? It is almost the history of ‘culture,’ of our so-called higher culture.” —Friedrich Nietzsche, 1882 With Nietzsche’s question as his objective, Stuart Walton begins Out of It: A Cultural History of Intoxication—a heterodox and throughly engaging examination of intoxicants, from the more everyday substances of alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco to the illicit realm of opiates, amphetamines, and hallucinogens. More than a mere catalog of intoxicants, however, Walton’s book is a smart, wry look at why intoxication has always been a part of the human experience—from our earliest Stone Age rituals to the practices of the ancient Greeks and Romans, right on through the Victorian era and ending with a flourish in modern times—and more significantly, why the use of intoxicants is, and will continue to be, an essential part of being human. Using gastronomy as an example, Walton illustrates that just as the study of food history was relatively unheard of until the 1970s, so too “intoxicology” has yet to be recognized as a richly warranted field of study. Though intoxication may not be considered as essential to human existence as food, and carries the unjust stigma of criminality, Walton proposes that it is “an integral part of Western civilization, and that we would do better to accept and celebrate that fact instead of making it a matter of criminal sanctions and repression.” The conclusions Walton draws cut across the grain of today’s prevailing attitudes and fuel an important and often neglected debate, ultimately establishing that intoxication is not only a fundamental human right but, in fact, a biological imperative. From the Hardcover edition.

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A Parent’s Guide to Teen Addiction

Westreich, Laurence M.

From Berkeley to the Bronx, teenage addiction has reached epidemic levels. Parents may suspect their teen’s substance use, but often don’t know if their teen is addicted or what to do about it. Dr. Laurence Westreich, an addiction expert and the father of two teenagers, helps parents navigate the fraught addiction landscape in A Parent’s Guide to Teen Addiction. Divided into three sections, this book—based on the author’s decades of experience evaluating and treating teenagers who use substances—guides parents from the moment they suspect their teen has a substance abuse problem to the steps families must take after intensive treatment. Dr. Westreich: • Lays out the facts of teen addiction and explains how to recognize a problem with a teen • Details what parents need to know about the substances that teenagers commonly use • Provides information on what to do about the substance abuse, including how to find good one-on-one addiction therapy, how to encourage a teen to enter an outpatient program or inpatient facility, and how to line up aftercare treatment Best of all, he includes “tough talk” dialogues that parents can tailor to their specific situation with their teen. This practical, hopeful, and reassuring book helps parents put their teen on the healthy and life-affirming road to recovery.

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Everything Is Horrible and Wonderful

Stephanie Wittels Wachs

A memoir of family, addiction, and grief from the sister of Harris Wittels, the Parks and Recreation writer whose death shocked the comedy world. Now in paperback! One phone call. That's all it took to change Stephanie Wittels Wachs's life forever.Her younger brother Harris, a star in the comedy world known for his work on shows like Parks and Recreation, had died of a heroin overdose. How do you make sense of such a tragic end to a life of so much hilarious brilliance?In beautiful, unsentimental, and surprisingly funny prose, Stephanie Wittels Wachs alternates between her brother's struggle with addiction, which she learned about three days before her wedding, and the first year after his death, in all its emotional devastation. This compelling portrait of a comedic genius and a profound exploration of the love between siblings is The Year of Magical Thinking for a new generation of readers. It will make you laugh, cry, and wonder if that possum on the fence is really your brother's spirit animal.

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Kick Your Addiction

Frederick Woolverton, Susan Shapiro

Is a smoking, alcohol, food, gambling, Internet, drug, or sex addiction holding you back from getting what you want most? Over the past twenty-five years, renowned addiction therapist Dr. Frederick Woolverton has used his dynamic, empathetic approach to help thousands of addicts achieve long-term recovery—including himself. He sees the specific habit as less important than the underlying chaos and fear that motivate the urge to soothe ourselves with bad habits. The solution, he has found, requires only a better understanding of yourself and a change in attitude. Using real patient examples as well as research and his own experience, Dr. Woolverton and coauthor and former patient Susan Shapiro show how to thrive without self-medicating. Woolverton’s specific instructions do not require an expensive therapist, rehab, a twelve-step program, or a higher power (though he does make readers aware of those viable options). Let him help you beat your addiction. When you conquer a toxic habit, you are leaving room for something beautiful to take its place.

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