Addictions Books

From the nomadic tribes of the Middle East centuries ago, to the streets of America's cities today, to suburban homes tomorrow; "Heroin" offers an in-depth review of every aspect of the drug as we know it. Humberto Fernandez has crafted a finely detailed look at a killer that we know too little about. With personal stories from recovering and active addicts, Fernandez shows us the every day life of an addict. His detailed account of the origins of the heroin trade points out the incredible staying power that this drug has shown. The author also goes into great detail explaining the history of medical treatments that we have tried using to get the drug under our control. All in all, "Heroin" is a comprehensive and educational look at a subject that we all might be a little scared to face head on. Fernandez has done an excellent job at helping us take that first peek.

As a heroin addict I loved this book, I read it over and over the stories were very real and the information very correct, I highly recommend this book to anyone... esp if you are a family member of an addict, an addict or work in the field of addiction, I myself have spent 28 days at The Betty Ford center, in addition to at least 39 other programs so I have a fair amount of knowledge of the subject and I still learned much from this book.

The best book on the subject I've ever read. Brilliant, incisive and comprehensive. Highly recommend this book! Great for students, educators or concerned readers.

I found "Heroin", by Humberto Fernandez, a fascinating read. I especially enjoyed the personal stories. It's an indepth and engaging look at this terrible drug. I really feel it is a useful tool for anyone touched by Heroin. A powerful and important book.

This is a beautifully written, deep and wide-ranging examination of the origin, use, effect and politics of heroin. It reports with great feeling and power the personal stories of those caught up in this life-destroying drug. It should be must reading for every legislator, community leader, drug counselor -- and parent.

G. Peter Duffy graciously escorts us through his troubled life...his own experience of repeated attempts at sobriety offers us exposure the virtual hopelessness of the chronically addicted; and then he proves it all wrong - his complete account convinces us that no one is hopeless!

The author provides us with an autobiographical personal saga that is truly riveting; but more importantly he has discretely woven his methods of overcoming his seemingly uncompromising afflictions into this narrative - which are simple, practical techniques that are ours for the taking.

Not your typical novel - and not a traditional self-help guide (although as effective); this book is a treasure-trove of valuable solutions for those who have struggled with maintaining sobriety. I also recommend this book to anyone who could benefit from empowerment, self-love, and peace - especially those who have had difficulty with the concept and achievement of the same.

Mesmerizing story - a real page turner! Reads like fiction, and then it hits you, you are reading someone'e real life story - and what a story!

"Hey God, I'm Home" is inspiration to anyone. I have an addict friend I am trying to locate who I am confident would benefit from reading this book.

After reading Mr. Duffy's life story, I am amazed he is on this earth to tell it.

A strong and powerful true story. This book is nothing short of inspirational, a must read not only for those struggling with addiction, but for any one who is has fallen into a dark place and is reaching for the light. G. Peter Duffy offers us, by the power of his example, a road to find the comfortable place within our selves. There is no such thing as an impossible case, especially when it comes to the alcoholic, this truly remarkable story will shake you, rattle you, and calm you with the miracle of hope, faith and determination.
Michael Clark Lorenzo
Author, Accidents of Birth

G. Peter Duffy graciously escorts us through his troubled life...his own experience of repeated attempts at sobriety offers us exposure the virtual hopelessness of the chronically addicted; and then he proves it all wrong - his complete account convinces us that no one is hopeless!

The author provides us with an autobiographical personal saga that is truly riveting; but more importantly he has discretely woven his methods of overcoming his seemingly uncompromising afflictions into this narrative - which are simple, practical techniques that are ours for our taking.

Not your typical novel - and not a traditional self-help guide (although as effective); this book is a treasure-trove of valuable solutions for those who have struggled with maintaining sobriety. I also recommend this book to anyone who could benefit from empowerment, self-love, and peace - especially those who have had difficulty with the concept and achievement of the same.

"Hey God I'm Home," is a must read for anyone who has experienced the crisis of addiction, self loathing, loss, abandonment and every other human dilemma that we are prone to. We are born innocent but our indoctrination from the cradle to the grave tells us we are guilty. What is it we are actually guilty of-- is the question G. Peter poses--our own sins or the sins handed down to us? G. Peter Duffy weaves a personal philosophy that is universal. As soon as we forget the sins of our father we can get on with ourselves. "It's about time we gave our thinking some thought...We all live with second hand beliefs..." The author takes us on a journey from his gutter bound existence to a Jacob's Ladder. G. Peter Duffy tells his true story and leaves nothing out. If you don't come out of this reading with a better grip on yourself, well then you didn't read it right. If this man conquered what he truly says he did, well, then there's hope for all of us. A must read for anyone struggling with addiction as well as looking to find their inner source of spirituality. G. Peter Duffy tells it like it is but tells it like no one else ever did.

I really love this book. I've been trying to live a drug free life, but the stress and pressures I feel sometimes make me think that it would be easier if I just started drinking beer and smoking weed like everyone else does. But after reading this book and incorporating some of the exercises into my life, I've found it easier to stay away from drugs. This guy has a great sense of humor and really seems to understand kids. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a way to releive stress without using drugs. Thanks, Alex. You rock!

It's all here - what every teen and young adult needs to know about how to feel really well and really good about themselves. On the premise that human beings like to get high, and that getting high is good, Dr. Packer's newest book tells us how to do it - without relying on alcohol, drugs or other substances. Written and illustrated in an engagingly contemporary way, "Highs" provides the reader with fresh, usable insights on such matters as serenity, nutrition, exercise, and relationships. Organized in three sections and 11 well- outlined chapters, it is possible - perhaps even recommended - that the reader turn to an area of particular interest first. Literate, witty, insightful, and irreverent where it should be, "Highs" is highly recommended to young people and parents alike.

I highly recomend this book to readers of all ages. Not only is it one of the funniest books i have ever read, it also contains many good methods to sleep better, relax, and most importantly, have fun. The book is true to its title, there are many safe and healthy ways to get a rush of adrenaline, or, just the opposite. There are several full chapters and several partial chapers dedicated to learning how to reduce stress, which is definitly something that most of us need. Another feature of this book is that it tricks kids into learning new things and encouraging a good life style without the feeling of a textbook. I would highly recomend this book to anyone looking for a good, educational, fun, and most of all, entertaining read.

In Highs!, Alex Packer presents more than one hundred and fifty ways for teenagers and young adults to feel good, really good, without resorting to alcohol or other drugs. Packer's detailed suggestions are divided into "Serenity Highs" (meditation, T'ai Chi Chuan, Yoga); "Physical and Sensuous Highs" (sports, relaxation exercises, food, massage); "Social, Spiritual, and Creative Highs" (nature, fasting, roleplaying games, music, dance, art). An especially recommended compendium of ideas and suggestions for today's youth seeking to avoid the pitfalls of alcohol consumptions and substance abuse in their personal and peer group recreational activities, Highs! is enhanced for teen and young adult readers with a bibliography, as well as suggestions for additional readings and resources.

Alex Packer has written a funny, educational, and comprehensive book on alternatives to getting high with alcohol or other drugs. The book includes examples of alternative highs from teenagers along with humorous illustrations and up-to-date links to websites. I hadn't realized how many non-chemical alternatives there were to getting high. I can't wait to pass this book on to my teenage nephew. I only wish such a book had been available when I was his age!

I initially bought this book because I wondered if being in love was just an addiction. But I learned so much more than that. This book should be helpful for practically everyone. It talks about how our love relationships are related to unmet needs from childhood. It described my parents relationship almost exactly and I see how it affected me. It was amazing that anyone knew all this stuff.

Not only discusses the symptoms, but also walks you through some steps to stop it, and to work through it. A wonderful book. I keep it on my bedside and consult it frequently even though I have read it cover to cover.

Well written, explains the reasons behind the toxic codependent dynamics, how to recognise them, and how to heal. A MUST HAVE!

simple, concise book that takes you through the subject in an interesting way.

I recommend it

I can't believe I am the first one to review this book! After struggling with addictions of all sorts for years (including alcohol, drugs, sex, and love addiction), I finally determined why I kept sabotaging my relationships with women. My compulsive search for something to help me feel less pain came from my childhood, and this book was the stepping stone that helped me see that there was hope to overcome this tricky addiction, seek help, and learn to love myself and others with authenticity.

I highly recommend this book to any alcoholic, chemically dependent or sexually addicted person. There is hope for a relationship without painful addictive behaviors, and this book will help you find that hope!

What a powerful and real tool this book immediately became for me. I don't know who Michael Picucci is, but when reading the book I feel like he is whispering in my ear. A tickle goes down my spine because he is saying things I've been needing and wanting to hear. Things I somehow knew to be true but didn't have the words for. What a rich feeling it has been, and is, to connect so deeply with a book, and at the same time have it offering me gifts, one after another. These invaluable gifts, like the "living map", the "fruits of the tree", the "four powers" of emotional healing, and the promise of a sexual/spiritual epiphany, among many others, will be the new guiding lights on my life journey. I am grateful to Dr. Picucci for sharing his wisdom and his life in such a bountiful way. If you care about recovery, if you care about life, read this book! Carolyn Kern

I will let a paragraph from a letter of thanks I wrote to Dr. Picucci serve as my review of his wonderful book:

Today I started reading The Journey Toward Complete Recovery. I sobbed through the introduction and the first two chapters - great big tears of recognition, validation and hope. I've read plenty of books that have struck a chord with me, but this one resonates particularly. This probably doesn't surprise you, as in my telling you my story, I related my sense of incompleteness after my years of healing work. It was just that sense of incompleteness, I think, that propelled you in developing the concept of Stage Two Recovery. I feel certain that your 'living map' will be a useful tool for me as I proceed on my healing journey, and I will ask my therapist to read your book (if she hasn't already).
*****************************************************************
After having devoured "The Journey Toward Complete Recovery", I can only say that from the first page to the last, it said exactly what I needed to hear after some 20 years of therapy and inner work. I will return to this book again and again for reminders that complete healing from significant trauma is possible. This man knows the terrain.

After we begin our recovery from alcohol and drug addiction, just when we thout the world would be ours, many of us feel an emptiness within ourselves. Here Dr. Picucci not only provides the roadmap to guide our way along the steps to recovery, but also helps us recognize the way to our emotional and spiritual awakening. I found this book to be an invaluable self-help resource for the tools and techniques we can use to discover and reclaim our whole, true selves.

For those who have been in long-term psychotherapy/personal growth/recovery or those who are contemplating making positive changes in their lives, Picucci's book offers an overview,supported by his personal experiences of a professional healer who "walks the walk", of what to expect, what to look forward to, and how to get where you want to go.

With the 'Journey Toward Complete Recovery,' Dr. Michael Picucci has written one of the most useful books on recovery we've ever seen. Its insights and exercises make it invaluable for anyone wishing to heal deep traumas that remain even after sobriety.

Even more helpful for those of us who use books as part of our support group, Michael Picucci makes himself available to us. He's open in a way that makes readers relate to him like an old friend - and a guide through even the later, more complex stages of recovery.

This is as good as bibiotherapy gets, so if you can only afford a few books on recovery, be sure this one is on your list!

With letters from love addicts recovered or recovering this is a very good book.
And from my review of her previous book:

Are you hooked in harmful relationships?
Holding onto some dim hope that your loved one will change if your loyalty/love is there for them UNCONDITIONALLY?
Unable to break a long pattern of choosing women haters,violent batterers, charming seductive MANIPULATORS whose only goal was to drive you crazy?
If you choose those who ignore your self-worth now you can perhaps see why!
The batterer may be physically abusive, or more subtle with emotionally & verbally abusive ways and You want so to believe lies & excuses!

If you've been in a relationship that you knew or suspected was harmful but could NOT leave, you know the pain of addiction to a person.
Heres WHY people became love addicted
HOW to recognize a bad relationship
HOW to deal with the MANIPULATION of your partner
THESE books arent just 'collections of horror stories'..they could save someones life!

This book was life-changing for me. Not only did I find myself relating to the women who wrote the letters, but I found myself nodding in agreement to Norwood's responses and suggestions. She has a creative way of making suggestions that make you want to learn more.

very informative about relationships and reasons you are drawn to the same kind of person you have spent so much time trying to recreate into the likness you need

I found this book at the perfect time. I needed help to get over divorce after a twenty-year marriage to an abusive Vietnam veteran. It helped me realize that I had a lot of work to do on myself, if I wanted to ever achieve a healthy relationship. It helped me be strong enough to say no, when my ex called and wanted to get back together. I am now in a loving, sane marriage and I give Norwood and the letters from other women who love too much, credit for helping me regain sanity and to teach me about the deadly consequences of relationship addiction. I can never thank these women enough. If you are in a problem relationship, you must read this book. It is outstanding. Norwood pulls no punches; yet her compassion shines through. Excellent!!

This book (along with the original Women Who Love Too Much) is perhaps the single most powerful book that I have read on my quest to recover from relationship addiction. Any woman who wants her man to change so that the relationship can get better needs to read this book. It may save her life and will definitely save her heart.

I loved this book. There are so many life lessons that all hum into one beautiful book.

Wow! As a Respiratory Therapist, I work with people everday who are suffering the debilitating pulmonary effects of years of smoking. Most of my patients want to quit and just can't. From a scientific point of view I can understand how difficult it is to quit but I never thought about the emotional hold smoking has on people until I read "A Life in Smoke".
I was hoping that Julia's book would help me obtain some insight of how my patients feel about their smoking and their many failed attempts to quit. It did just that. I never realized the intimate friendship that people have with their cigarettes and what a important part of their survival those cigarettes are. I believe the book helped me to become more understanding, more empathetic and less judgemental. I'm going to recommend it to all of my co-workers.

For the first time, I have a glimpse into what it's like to be a smoker and why they do it. I've never understood the call of cigarettes--the few times I've tried one, I haven't felt a 'rush' or anything compelling me to have another, just a smokey icky taste in the mouth. Julia Hansen's tales of smoking and how she used the habit as a way to keep people and emotions at bay touched me deeply. There's a twist at the end that's both not surprising and disappointing, but you'll have to read it. An author who has found her voice, I hope she writes more.

As an avid never smoked non-smoker, my eyes were opened to the complexities of trying to break this one little habit. I have much more respect for my friends and family members that have accomplished this feat through the years. Hats off to Julia for not letting past defeats lessen her determination. This book is a thumbnail view into the highs and lows of her very interesting life. It is a great read for anyone interested in how other people handle everyday life.

Fantastic Read! I found this to be a completely heartfelt realistic view of the life of a smoker trying to quit. The tongue-in-cheek humor actually comes across as a coping mechanism instead of snarky storytelling. It is easy to find yourself truly caring about this person and wanting them to succeed!

Although this book is about addiction, I believe anyone can relate to the story. Anyone who's suffering from drug/chemical dependency, anyone who's a codependent or anyone who's going through a rough time in life. Great story!

Dr. Davis's extremely honest and genuine account of his twin brother's death and his own spiral into addiction provides readers from all different experiences a solid introduction to addiction and the hope that comes with treatment. I would recommend this book to anyone who has a family member or friend dealing with addiction, anyone who wants to know more about a disease that is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed, and any healthcare professional who realizes the extent to which addiction pervades every patient population and the often inadequate help these patients receive. The appendices provide the reader with a great resource manual of different treatment programs and facilities nationwide as well as several screening tools for someone who suspects an individual may be abusing or addicted to alcohol or drugs.

Dr. Davis's discovery of his brother's poetry unexpectedly provides him with insight into his own past. What was once a shared existence, Dr. Davis's loss of his twin brother to HIV/AIDS reveals how much their lives have diverged on the surface, only to converge again in after his brother's passing - a realization that comes to him only after sharing his experiences to others during his own recovery process. Now, Davis is continuing the legacy of his brother by sharing his poetry and his life story.

This book is a very fluid read, and it comes across as very honest without sacrificing its sentiment. Davis is describes the hidden aspects about a professional living with an addiction. It is an encouraging message to those of us who are facing hardships and have succumbed to addiction as a result. His life course has led him to a better place, and vividly documents how he has made that journey.

Dr. Davis conveys an important message in a gripping and honest book: that addiction can affect anyone, even physicians, and that recovery is possible by facing one's fears and deepest emotions. As an identical twin myself, I could relate to much of the description of the relationship between Scott and Jonathan; there's just a bond between twins that is unique and unbreakable.

This book is also a great resource for those interested in finding or referring help. There is a lengthy appendix addressing issues surrounding addiction and abuse as well as intervention and recovery. I highly recommend it!

Dr. Davis's book gives an intimate and insightful perspective on addiction and its effects not only on the addicted, but on the family. By telling his story honestly and without any flair, Dr. Davis shows us that even the best of us can become victim of addiction, and despite the horrible nature of the disease, that there is hope. As a medical student, it is a jarring view of a problem that we see all across the US all too often, and being able to understand it through Dr. Davis's account, gives us better insight through which to understand our patients.

Excellent coverage of a very difficult subject.I am a brain injury nurse @ a rehabilitation hospital and have worked w/TBI patients for 20 years. This book takes you through the unfortunate experience about as well as anything I have yet read.I bought this for my daughter whose longtime boyfriend suffered a closed head injury in April,2008. She could not put this book down for 3 days. Excellent info/insight.

All the other books I've read on that subject (my husband has TBI) are too techical. This is written in easy to understand languate and gives you the truth on what to expect when your loved one has a TBI.

This was an excellent book. It's easy to read and well organized. Great references for further reading and help. If your loved one recently suffered a TBI this is the book to read. It will answer alot of the questions you will have as they progress in treatment. This book will explain the medications, treatment procedures etc that your loved one may be going through. I wish I would have gotten this book from the beginning. This is an excellent book to purchase for someone as soon as possible. It will help guide you through the process and what to expect.

As a mother of a 15 yr old boy who has a TBI, I've read many books about brain injury. This book is an excellent resource...describing head trauma and how different functions can be affected. It also explains how a person actually comes out of a coma in gradual stages. It addresses so many pertinent issues...I'm so glad I was able to add it to my library.

After living with and caring for my 31 year old son, who suffers from a TBI, reading this book was a positive lift. It gave me hope, new ideas to try, and support for me and the rest of my family. TBI's are terrible injuries, especially when they are as severe as my son's; having reading material at hand that is well written and filled with good information is wonderful.

MARVELOUS! A MUST READ FOR ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY SUBSTANCE ABUSE! GREAT WORK TONI.

Toni Marie's debut novel depicts a raw path through drug addiction, relationships, motherhood, and self-realization. The author takes you on a romp through the dark underworld of the San Francisco drug scene, and outlines the hardships of marriage and parenting, the difficulties of post-marrital relationships, and the courage of over-seas military service with truthful and uncensored detail. Written in a first person auto-biographical format Toni Marie tells her story through a series of flash backs which keeps the reader in a whirlwind of surrealistic images, and demands non-stop page turning as the details of one brave woman's life unfold dramatically.

This work is highly recommended for people plagued by drug or alcohol addiction, friends and family of addicts, and all women who seek empowerment in facing everyday hardships at home and in the workplace and should be read as a manual of success, a textbook of life, and a meditation for strength and hope.

Thanks to Ms. Marie for writing a down to Earth, no holds barred book. The frank and bluntly honest manner in which the information is presented is a breath of fresh air in a sea of self-help publications. The stories hit strangely close to home. The highs and lows of this book were reassuring that the issues of my family and I are not isolated. Recovery, sobriety and the positive sides of life are indeed possible after all. Great reading for all adult members of the affected family. Terrific work!

Lost At Home, Abroad, a painfully honest account of addiction and recovery, is well worth the readers time and energy. For those in recovery, still addicted to drugs, or with family/friends who are struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, Lost At Home, Abroad is a book of hope for recovery.

Toni Marie takes the reader on a wild international romp, covering all the bases of womanhood from drug addiction, single parenting, friendship, relationships, and the workplace. This from the heart tale describes the harsh realities of a woman's life from a first-person perspective told in a series of flashbacks. The author paints a vivid and painful world, including the 1980's drug subculture in San Francisco, to upper-class family life in the Gion District of Kyoto, to lonely military service in Germany. Throughout, the challenges of living life clean and sober are honestly and realistically portrayed and offer hope for addicts in recovery.

This book comes highly recommended for friends and family of addicts, for people struggling through recovery, for women facing everyday hardships at home and in the workplace, and for professionals working with a difficult and challenging population. _Lost at Home, Abroad_ is a handbook for life, a sourcebook for spiritual awakening, and a story of triumph, hope, and empowerment.